Bengaluru: A moral policing incident near a lakeside escalated into a violent attack after a group of men allegedly chased an entrepreneur and his woman friend to a battery-manufacturing unit near Doddaballapur, stormed the factory, assaulted those inside with weapons, vandalised the property, and allegedly molested the woman.The incident took place on the night of July 26. According to police, Aravinda Bharadhwaj, a Rajasthan native who runs the battery-manufacturing unit in Veerapura Industrial Area, was sitting in his car with a woman near KG Kuntanahalli Lake when a group of local men gathered and questioned their presence.The duo left the spot and drove towards the industrial area. During the journey, their car allegedly brushed against a motorcycle, triggering an argument. Police suspect the confrontation escalated when the group chased the car to the factory.Investigators said around 30 people allegedly broke open the factory gate and barged into the premises armed with machetes, wooden logs, and other deadly weapons. They allegedly assaulted Aravinda, his business partner Anupam Kumar, factory employees and others. The group also allegedly hurled concrete debris at the car, smashed surveillance cameras, and vandalised the unit.Aravinda alleged that the assailants dragged his woman friend out of the premises, molested her, and issued threats before fleeing.Aravinda suffered injuries to his head, right hand, and leg, while Anupam Kumar and a few employees sustained minor injuries. They were treated at a private hospital.Doddaballapur Rural police have registered a case against Harsha, Bharath, Sandeep, Timmaraju, Abhi, Latif and other unidentified persons. A senior police officer said eight accused have been arrested so far and efforts are underway to trace the remaining suspects.
