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The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the police in Karnataka’s Hubballi of assaulting a party worker and tearing her clothes during her arrest, an allegation that has been strongly denied by the police.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated on social media showing the woman surrounded by male and female police personnel inside a bus. The BJP claimed that the worker was manhandled and her clothes were torn when she resisted arrest and raised objections.
However, Hubballi Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar rejected the allegations, asserting that the claims against the police were “completely incorrect”. He said the woman herself removed her clothes and assaulted police personnel during the arrest.
Explaining the background of the incident, Kumar said police had visited Chalukya Nagar as part of a survey exercise. “While collecting information for the survey, there was a disagreement with some local residents. This led to an argument, followed by abuse and assault,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
He said three separate cases were registered in connection with the incident. “On January 5, a woman was taken into custody in an attempted murder case filed by a local resident. During the arrest, she offered strong resistance, and people associated with her also obstructed the police,” Kumar said.
According to the police commissioner, the woman allegedly bit a sub-inspector during the confrontation. “Three to four police personnel were assaulted and prevented from performing their duties,” he said.
Kumar further claimed that the woman removed her clothes while being taken to the police vehicle. “It was our police staff, particularly women personnel, who brought clothes with the help of local people and ensured she was dressed properly,” he added.
He also stated that the woman has a criminal history. “She has about nine cases registered against her, five of them from last year,” Kumar said. Dismissing the BJP’s allegations, the police commissioner said, “The claim that the police misbehaved with her is completely false.”
The incident has triggered political controversy, with the BJP demanding action against the police, while authorities maintain that due procedure was followed during the arrest and that the video circulating online presents a misleading picture of the events
