Bengaluru, April 15: In a shocking case of moral policing, a young Muslim woman was harassed in a park in Bengaluru by a group of individuals for being seen with a Hindu male companion.

The incident came to light after a 2-minute-14-second video went viral on social media on Tuesday. The police are currently verifying the details of the incident.

In the video, one of the men, who appears to be recording the couple, authoritatively asks the young woman to hand over her burqa and is seen threatening her.

The video shows the group approaching the couple and asking the young woman her name. When she tries to hide behind the youth, they question him, saying she is a Muslim and he is a Hindu — how can they be sitting together?

The youth responds that they are friends. One of the men in the group claims that they are more than friends and says he has the full video as evidence.

The man continues to heckle the young woman, demanding that she come to him and reveal her name as he is calling other members of his group to come to the spot. He repeatedly insists that she state her name.

He further says, “If you want to do all this, do it without wearing the burqa. She belongs to our (Muslim) community. Give me my burqa,” he demands.

When the young woman holds her friend’s hand and tries to leave, the man follows them and insists she hand over the burqa before leaving.

He continues to torment her, saying, “What antics are you up to? You want to hold his hand? Do you have any respect for the burqa? I want you to hand it over,” he insists.

“You go to hell — we don’t care. First take off the burqa, then go,” the man is heard telling her.

The woman pleads with them not to create an issue. However, the man accuses her, claiming they had been watching her since she entered a hotel. He questions her, asking how she can behave like that as a Muslim.

On April 11, the Karnataka Police arrested four individuals, including a minor, in connection with a case of moral policing reported under the Chandra Layout police station limits in Bengaluru.

The accused allegedly confronted a Muslim woman for speaking with a youth from another community. They verbally abused her and attempted to assault her.

DCP (West) S. Girish s, “Within the limits of Chandra Layout police station, a boy and a girl were sitting on a bike in front of a park. Upon seeing them, a group of four to five men approached and began questioning them. The woman was wearing a burqa.”

“The accused questioned her about why she was at the location and whether she had informed her family. Based on the young woman’s complaint, we registered a case and arrested the four accused. We have also taken the minor involved into custody,” the DCP said.

Police sources stated that the young Muslim female stood her ground and confronted the group, questioning their interference in her personal matters. She reportedly told them that the person she was speaking to was her classmate and asked why she should give out her family’s contact information. Her family lodged a police complaint later.

New Delhi/Patna, April 15: In a key move to bolster the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections slated for late this year, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital on Tuesday.

Following the meeting, Tejashwi Yadav described the interaction as “positive” and emphasised unity within the opposition bloc.

“We discussed the strategy for the Bihar Assembly election 2025. The atmosphere was positive. A follow-up meeting will be held on April 17 in Patna with our Left allies, including CPI-ML, CPI, and CPI-M, to finalise the strategy,” he told reporters.

He reiterated the Mahagathbandhan’s readiness, stating: “We are fully prepared and will contest with full strength. The people of Bihar have decided to change the government.”

Congress chief Kharge took to X to echo Tejashwi Yadav’s sentiments and claim a shift in the political momentum in Bihar.

“Today, we met Bihar’s former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, and the meeting was positive. This time, change is certain in Bihar. In the coming elections, we will offer a strong, just, and welfare-based alternative for the people of Bihar. Bihar will be freed from BJP and its opportunistic thug alliance,” he posted.

He asserted that the youth, farmers and backward and marginalised sections of society are all looking to the Mahagathbandhan for governance.

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, RJD Rajya Sabha members Sanjay Yadav, and Manoj Kumar Jha, Congress’s Bihar in charge Krishna Allavaru and other leaders were also present in the meeting.

While leaders did not disclose specific details, sources confirm that seat-sharing negotiations were a key issue in the meeting.

In the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the RJD contested 144 of the total 243 seats and won 75, the Congress contested 70 seats and won 19, the CPI-ML contested 19 seats and won 12, the CPI and the CPI-M contested on 6 and 4 seats, respectively.

The Congress’s underperformance last time has led to calls within the RJD and Left circles to revise the allocation for 2025 to better reflect ground realities.

New Delhi, April 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended greetings on ‘Poila Boishakh’, which marks the beginning of the Bengali New Year.

PM Modi took to social media to wish the people and prayed for everyone’s success.

“Greetings on Poila Boishakh! Best wishes on Poila Boishakh! I hope all your wishes are fulfilled in this year. I pray for everyone’s success, happiness, prosperity and good health. Shubho Nabo Barsho!” he wrote on X.

Poila Baisakh, also known as Pohela Boishakh, marks the beginning of the Bengali New Year. The day is celebrated with joy, cultural pride and enthusiasm by Bengalis worldwide.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in her greetings on the occasion, posted on her X handle that it is the ‘Bangla Day’ and prayed for strengthening the bonds of brotherhood.

“I sing in Bengali…’ ‘Bangla Day’ – Greetings to all citizens and best wishes to our younger brothers and sisters. May the traditional culture of the state be further developed, and may the bonds of brotherhood among the people of the state be further strengthened.”

Her message is significant given the fact that the state has witnessed violent protests over the Waqf Amendment Act, which have largely targeted the Hindu community.

Hundreds of Hindus have fled their homes in the Murshidbad district, where their properties were looted, burnt, and temples desecrated. Two have died in the violence so far.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari also called for unity in his New Year message.

He wrote on X, “Happy New Year! May the scorching summer heat of the month of Baishakh (1st month of the Bengali New year) purify the soul, In the interest of preserving the culture of reform, I call for unity, In the fight against injustice, truth will triumph, My greetings to everyone on the first day of the Bengali new year, Poyala Baishakh. At the beginning of the new year, I pray to Mother Bhavatarini for everyone’s well-being.”

Adhikari has been the leading voice for the affected Hindus in the violence-hit parts of the state. It was on his petition that the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of Central forces in the violence-affected areas.

Generally, Poila Baisakh 2025 is synonymous with happiness and a new beginning. Homes are beautifully decorated, new clothes are worn, markets are visited, and families come together over feasts. The day typically starts with devotees offering prayers at temples, seeking blessings for a prosperous year ahead. For business owners, it’s a time to inaugurate new ventures and begin fresh account books, symbolising growth and renewal. Farmers regard the day as the onset of a new agricultural season.

It’s a day for people to celebrate, connect and exchange warm ‘Noboborsho’ greetings. But this year, the day comes amid a wave of fear and apprehension, particularly among the Hindus living in Muslim majority pockets after the violent targeting during the protests against the new Waqf Law.