6 Arrested For Forcing Women To Remove Hijab At Vellore Fort In Tamil Nadu; detained minor

According to the Vellore district police, a group of autorickshaw drivers visited the fort earlier this week and targeted hijab-clad women who were seen in the company of male friends.

In an alleged video of the incident, the men can be seen asking the women details such as where they come from and how they could indulge in “such acts.” In one of the videos shared on social media, when a man informs the gang that he is in love with the woman, the men immediately ask him to accompany them to the Jamaat and tell him that they will organize her nikkah, then insist that she otherwise woman should remove hijab.

After the incident, members of some Muslim organizations came to the North Police Station and urged the police to take action against those who threatened the women to remove their hijab and filmed them without their consent and shared the video on social media.

Based on a complaint from the village administrative officer (VAO), the Northern Police registered a case under various IPC provisions for promoting enmity, outraging women’s modesty and under the IT Act on Wednesday. Special teams were formed to catch the people involved. and the police soon arrested the defendant on Wednesday night.

Addressing the media, Vellore Police Superintendent S Rajesh Kannan said that strict crackdowns would be launched against those who take videos and threaten people’s personal freedom.

“Action will be taken against those who spread these videos on social networks. We have police personnel on duty at the fort. Also, we are planning to set up a police help center for any assistance,” he said, adding that they are conducting an investigation to determine the defendant’s motive for taking the video.