Anekal: Police have arrested five men, part of a notorious ‘ganja gang’, for sexually harassing and assaulting a young woman in broad daylight. The main accused has been identified as John Richard (24), a resident of Renuka Yellamma Colony. The other accused are Puneeth (22) from Begur, Anush Madan (20), Kanikya Swamy (50), and Arun (19) from Ittasandra.

The shocking incident took place on Sunday in Mylasandra, under the jurisdiction of Bannerghatta Police Station. The accused, allegedly intoxicated, misbehaved with the woman and physically assaulted her when she was on her way to a grocery store in Renuka Yellamma Colony.

The gang reportedly touched the woman inappropriately and assaulted those who came to her aid. The entire act was captured on CCTV footage and quickly went viral on social media, prompting swift police action. Bannerghatta police arrested the accused the same night and presented them before court, where they were remanded to judicial custody. During questioning, the accused admitted to committing the crime while under the influence of alcohol.

Reacting to the incident, Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara said such crimes would not be taken lightly. “Strict action is being taken immediately. These incidents impact society deeply. We are treating this case with seriousness and taking stringent measures,” he stated.

“No other girl should go through this trauma” — survivor speaks

Following the arrests, the survivor expressed relief and gratitude to the police. “The officers supported me a lot and ensured my safety. I am happy that the culprits are now behind bars. But I hope the law delivers them a strict jail sentence. No other girl should face what I went through,” she said.
Recalling the ordeal, she described feeling extremely frightened and anxious after the assault. However, she added that the police maintained round-the-clock security near her house, which helped her regain confidence. She thanked the Bannerghatta police for their swift action and protection.