A disturbing case of sexual harassment was reported aboard a KSRTC bus in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, when a woman passenger filmed a man allegedly molesting her during the journey. The incident occurred on a bus operating from the Thiruvananthapuram depot to Vellarada via Kattakada, near Peyad.
According to reports, the woman realised that the co-passenger sitting beside her was touching her inappropriately and discreetly recorded the act on her mobile phone. In the video, the man can be seen using a bag to shield his actions while touching her body. Gathering courage, the woman confronted him on camera, slapped him, and exposed his face to the public.
“What are you doing? Don’t you have a mother or sister at home? How disgusting is this? Aren’t you ashamed?” she is heard shouting at him in the viral clip. Her outburst drew attention from other passengers and the bus conductor, who intervened after she demanded that the man either be handed over to the police or made to leave the bus.
The accused was later forced to disembark, though no official police complaint has been lodged so far. Authorities said they are aware of the video circulating widely on social media and are verifying the details to take appropriate action.
The footage, which has triggered outrage online, shows the man first brushing against the woman’s legs before allegedly attempting to touch her chest area under the guise of adjusting his bag. Social media users have praised the woman’s presence of mind and courage for recording the incident and confronting her harasser in a public setting, while urging the Kerala Police to act suo motu based on the visual evidence.
Women’s rights activists have also called for stronger mechanisms to ensure safety in public transport, citing this as yet another example of the everyday sexual harassment faced by women commuters in India.
