A political controversy has erupted in Karnataka’s Hubballi after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that one of its women workers was assaulted and humiliated by the police during her arrest. The police, however, have firmly denied the allegation, claiming the woman created a disturbance and behaved aggressively while being taken into custody.
According to the BJP, the woman worker was arrested during a police operation linked to a local survey in Chalukya Nagar. The party alleged that she resisted the action, during which police personnel assaulted her and tore her clothes. A video circulating on social media shows the woman surrounded by both male and female police officers inside a bus, fuelling political outrage and demands for action against the police.
Responding to the allegations, Hubballi Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar rejected the claims, stating that the narrative being circulated was misleading. He said the incident stemmed from a dispute during a survey conducted by competent authorities, which led to arguments, abuse, and alleged assault on officials by locals.
The commissioner explained that three separate cases were registered in connection with the incident. On January 5, the woman was arrested in an attempted murder case filed by a local resident. During the arrest, she allegedly resisted strongly and was supported by people associated with her. Kumar claimed that she bit a sub-inspector and assaulted three to four police personnel, obstructing them from performing their duties.
Addressing the specific allegation of misconduct, Kumar said the woman removed her own clothes while being taken to the police vehicle. He added that women police personnel, with help from local residents, brought clothes and ensured she was properly dressed.
The police also revealed that the woman has around nine cases registered against her, five of them filed last year. Terming the accusations against the police as false, the commissioner maintained that no misbehavior took place.
The incident has triggered political sparring in the state, with both sides standing by their versions as investigations continue.
