Indian jogger filmed chasing and hitting man who sexually harassed her in Bangalore
Veena Ashiya Chindlur's response has sparked a debate about discrimination
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Your support makes all the difference.A young woman has become an online celebrity in Bangalore after a friend filmed her chasing down and kicking a man who harassed her while she was jogging.
The incident has sparked a fierce debate about gender discrimination in the India, which has been under the international spotlight following numerous reports of sexual violence since the fatal gang rape of a female student on a bus in 2012.
Veena Ashiya Chindlur told the Bangalore Mirror she was on her daily jog in the local park on Friday morning when a man started sexually harassing her.
Her friend started filming as she decided to chase him until she caught up with him, telling him to kneel and hitting him, before complaining to the police.
Posting the video to Facebook, she wrote: “Taught an eve-teaser a tough lesson! I was eve-teased this morning by a guy in a park where I run regularly.
“I chased him, hit him hard and filed an FIR. Police were extremely supportive.
“I am posting this video for women to know that change will happen only when we want it to happen!“
Eve-teasing is a euphemism used in India for the public sexual harassment or molestation of women.
The video has since gained thousands of “likes” and been posted multiple times on YouTube.
Several online commentators cast doubt on the legitimacy of the footage and criticised the young woman’s “violence” towards the man.
"This is called orchestrated by some on Facebook, which is very sad,” Mr Chindlur told the Bangalore Mirror.
“The fact that women can react and hit back is just not acceptable in our society.”
Police used the footage to identify the suspect, who was found and arrested within an hour.
The 30-year-old, accused of making “lewd gestures”, has been prosecuted under sections 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code.
Section 509 can result in up to a year imprisonment for anyone “intending to insult the modesty of any woman” verbally or physically and 354 covers any assault with “intent to outrage modesty”.
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