Six persons were arrested after a video clipping of a college girl’s molestation in Odisha’s Bargarh district went viral on social media, police said on Sunday.
In the clipping, a group of men were seen chasing, molesting and harassing the uniformed girl despite her repeated pleas to let go.
However, the youths who had covered their faces with towels kept on harassing her and also thrashed a man accompanying her.
The incident is believed to have occurred on the Melchhamunda-Padmapur road a couple of days ago when the girl was returning from college, informed sources said.
“Four prime accused and two others have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab other miscreants,” said Padmapur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Laxminarayan Panda.
The Bargarh Superintendent of Police had on Saturday ordered a probe after the clipping surfaced on the Internet.
A case was registered on charges of assault or use of criminal force on any woman or abets such act with intention to disrobe, wrongful restraint and act done by several persons with common intent under the Indian Penal Code.
“The case was registered under Sections 341, 354, 354(B), and 34 of the IPC as well as under relevant Sections of the Information Technology Act,” Director General of Police R.P. Sharma said.
He said police has been directed to take stern action against persons involved in similar cases.