Bengaluru: Police have arrested 12 people for allegedly leading a violent mob attack on a private factory in Doddaballapur, where 30 to 40 armed men stormed the premises, assaulted employees with knives, longs, maces and wooden sticks, vandalised property, and allegedly threatened workers in what police are investigating as a case of moral policing. The incident occurred on July 26, and all 12 accused have been remanded in judicial custody.According to a complaint filed by Aravind Bharadwaj, the violence was triggered by an earlier confrontation involving his friend Anupam Kumar and a female companion. Police said Anupam and his friend were sitting inside a car near Doddatumkur village around 6pm when three or four men approached them and picked an argument. After the altercation, the pair drove to the factory, but the group allegedly followed them.Soon, 30 to 40 people gathered outside the factory, allegedly smashed Anupam’s car windows, and stormed the premises. Bharadwaj alleged that the attackers assaulted him with wooden logs and other deadly weapons, causing bleeding injuries. Anupam was allegedly stabbed with a knife, while several factory employees suffered minor injuries.Police registered a case and have so far arrested 12 accused. Efforts are under way to identify and apprehend the remaining members of the mob.TOI had earlier reported, based on information from investigating officers, that Bharadwaj was in the car with a female friend. Police have since clarified that it was Anupam Kumar, not Bharadwaj, who was in the car during the initial confrontation.
