PANAJI
Days after a viral video showing a group of Indian men harassing foreign women at Arambol beach sparked outrage and debate on tourist safety in Goa, police have arrested three men from Karnataka for outraging modesty and wrongful restraint.
The video, widely shared on social media, showed the men trying to coax and put their arms around two visibly uncomfortable foreign women for photographs. The clip, which went viral with millions of views, prompted the Tourism Department and police to announce stricter vigilance at popular coastal areas and identify the men involved.
Acting on the seriousness of the incident, the Tourist Police filed a complaint at Mandrem Police Station, which registered an FIR under Sections 126(2) and 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. A joint operation then led to the arrest of the accused ” Karthik B R (28), B N Santhosha (33) and Ravi B N ” from Ravandur village near Mysuru, Karnataka. All three are residents of Ravandur Hobli in Piriyapattana, Mysuru district.
Superintendent of Police (North) Rahul Gupta confirmed the arrests, saying details had been withheld earlier to avoid alerting the accused. “The police acted swiftly and ensured that those responsible were brought to book,” he said.
The incident follows another controversy at Vagator beach, where bouncers and staff of Romeo Lane restaurant allegedly assaulted a family from Varanasi. While an FIR was registered, the restaurant’s general manager denied the claim, alleging the tourists were drunk and abusive after consuming drinks from another table.
Condemning both incidents as “unacceptable behaviour”, the Tourism Department held an emergency meeting with the Goa Police to review safety measures for visitors. Director General of Police Alok Kumar warned that any assault, intimidation, or misconduct will invite strict action and urged people to immediately report such incidents to the police.
