A Bengaluru-based social media influencer has publicly shared a traumatic incident where she was sexually harassed by a minor, narrating her experience in a video that has since gone viral and sparked significant debate on social media. The influencer, Biswal, described how a 10-year-old boy on a bicycle initially approached her with a hello, only to touch her inappropriately before quickly fleeing the scene.

The incident, which happened while she was returning home, left her visibly shaken, prompting her to post a tearful video for her over four lakh Instagram followers.

According to Biswal, while some bystanders sympathized with her, others asked her to “spare” the boy, insisting that her actions were unintentional due to his young age, Live Mint reported. Biswal expressed her frustration at the leniency often shown to minors in such cases, explaining that the encounter affected her deeply.

The post drew a swift response from the Karnataka portfolio on X, which stated, “This kind of harassment, which happens openly in a public place, raises serious concerns about the safety and welfare of women in the city. We have to ask, is it really possible for such incidents to happen so openly on the streets of Bengaluru?”, stressing the need for increased security measures in public areas to protect women.

An Instagram user, @nehabiswal120, reported that he faced sexual harassment in BTM Layout, Bengaluru. She claims that while she was walking down the street, a boy on a bicycle approached her, greeted her with a “hello” and then touched her inappropriately before speeding away from the… pic.twitter.com/R6qXDnVUc8

— Karnataka Portfolio (@karnatakaportf) November 6, 2024

Biswal’s account drew a mixed reaction online. While many people expressed their solidarity with her, others questioned the credibility of her experience, labeling her a “drama queen”. Some responses also invoked a North-South regional divide, adding another layer to the discourse on social media, as reported by Hindustan Times.

After her initial post, Biswal uploaded a follow-up video, thanking those who supported her and reiterating the importance of public discussion about harassment.