A college girl was beaten in full public view in Puri district on Sunday morning for refusing to share her WhatsApp number with a youth.
The incident occurred when the girl was walking down the street near the Brahmagiri market while the youth accompanied by his brother intercepted her and asked for her WhatsApp number.
When the girl refused to part with her personal details, the duo allegedly thrashed her in the busy market area while local people remained mute spectators to the incident.
The girl’s family members filed a case with the local police, following which the sibling duo was arrested.
The prime accused was identified as Ganesh Pradhan. He and his brother Kartik hail from Baisibati village under the Brahmagiri police limits.
While the girl and her mother refused to give their comments to reporters, sources said villagers were mediating to solve the matter amicably.
The police, however, claimed that the two accused were arrested. “The girl was beaten by the two youths when she refused to give her contact number. A case has been registered, and two persons have been arrested in this connection. The accused will be forwarded to court later,” Brahmagiri PS IIC Uma Shankar Singh said.
The case has been registered under Sections 354 (b), 323, 324, 427, 506, 327, and 34 of IPC.