This week a Dutch YouTuber identified as Pedro Mota was assaulted and manhandled by a trader Hayat Sharif in Karnataka’s Bengaluru. The incident caught the attention and ultimately the police action only after the YouTuber uploaded the video. As per the official police statement, the accused has been traced and arrested by the Bengaluru Police on June 12.
The YouTuber shared the video of the attack on June 11 and it has more than 31 thousand views. Notably, the YouTuber was roaming around the Chor Bazar, The caption of his video reads, “Foreigner travelling in India experiences the thieves market in Bangalore, also known as the Sunday market or chor bazaar. But exploring the area started out on the wrong foot as an angry man attacked me by grabbing and twisting my hand and arm, lunging after me as I tried to escape. After I had some street food, met great local Indian people and haggled for a new buttoned shirt.” The Youtuber has a handle named, Madly Rover and has around 30,000 subscribers.
Sharing about the incident news agency ANI wrote on Twitter, “A Dutch vlogger Pedro Mota was manhandled on a busy road in the Chickpet area of Bengaluru while the YouTuber was recording a vlog on the streets Regarding a complaint about misbehaving with foreigner Pedro Mota, a case has been registered against the person Navab Hayath Sharif under Karnataka Police Act Section 92: Laxman B Nimbargi, DCP, West Division, Bengaluru.”
The police statement in the case is also available which reads, “Pertaining to this, action has been taken and the concerned person rounded up. Strict action will be taken against him. No such misbehaviour with foreign tourists will be tolerated,” as per Laxman B Nimbargi, DCP, West Division, Bengaluru.
As per the video sheared by the YouTuber he was exploring the chor bazar market and can be seen saying ‘Namaste sir,’ while the man, who looked like a shopkeeper and has been identified as Navab Hayath Sharif, grabbed his hand and started shouting, “Ye kya hai…(What is this…).” Within no time the attacker tried to snatch the camera of the YouTuber to which he said, ‘Let me go sir..’.
This is how the netizens reacted to the attack:
A verified Twitter user who is also an advocate wrote, “It is shameful for India that someone would act in such a disrespectful manner towards a foreign visitor who was visiting Bangalore, India; urgent action should be done against that person.”
Another Twitter user wrote, “This random guy in chickpea harassed a foreigner, is this how we treat our guests, pls take action, the foreigner’s name is Pedro Mota he is a YouTuber from the Netherlands”
Another Twitter user wrote, “This guy is a popular YouTuber. Here he is not doing anything untoward. The ruffian is mistreating him and is being violent towards him. There is a sudden increase in lawlessness in Karnataka post-Congress takeover”
Another user wrote, “It is shameful for India that someone would act in such a disrespectful manner towards a foreign visitor who was visiting Bangalore, India; urgent action should be done against that person”
What is even more scary is that this is not the only incident where an YouTuber has been attacked or harassed by the commoners. A South Korean YouTuber was allegedly harassed by two men in December of last year as she was live streaming on a Mumbai street. An FIR was later filed under section 354 (assault) of the Indian Penal Code after the incident’s viral video led to the arrest of two individuals, Mobeen Chand Mohammad Shaikh and Mohammad Naqeeb Sadrealam Ansari, by the Mumbai Police. The Korean YouTuber was then promised complete protection by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
The victim wrote on Twitter, “Last night on stream, there was a guy who harassed me. I tried my best not to escalate the situation and leave because he was with his friend. And some people said that it was initiated by me being too friendly and engaging the conversation. Makes me think again about streaming.”
