Viral: Bus Conductor’s Sexual Abuse, Victim Shamed?

A shocking incident aboard a KSRTC bus in Mangaluru has triggered outrage after a video surfaced showing a bus conductor sexually harassing a sleeping female passenger.

The video, recorded by a co-passenger, shows the conductor inappropriately touching the woman. The accused was swiftly arrested by Konaje police under Sections 74 and 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and has been placed in judicial custody for 15 days. KSRTC immediately suspended him and initiated a disciplinary inquiry.

While the act itself sparked anger, much of the social media conversation unexpectedly shifted focus. Instead of solely demanding harsher punishment for the conductor, many users criticised the individual who filmed the assault without intervening. Several comments expressed anger at the cameraman for standing by and not stopping the crime.

Surprisingly, a significant portion of the online outrage was directed toward the issue of blurring the victim’s face. Many users slammed media outlets and individuals who shared the video without protecting her identity. Comments like “At least blur that girl’s face” and “Can’t you blur the victim’s face?” flooded the posts.

This shift in attention, while important in respecting the victim’s dignity, shows a troubling pattern where victim-blaming tendencies emerge subtly. Instead of keeping the primary focus on ensuring the conductor faces strict consequences, discussions veered toward the recording and sharing practices.

This not only risks sidelining the criminal act itself but also burdens the victim further by placing the spotlight on how she is portrayed, rather than firmly demanding justice. Demanding accountability from perpetrators must always remain the foremost priority.