A screengrab of the viral video where Dutch-based YouTuber Pedro Mota is being harassed by a vendor on Chickpete Street in Bengaluru. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Acting swiftly, City Market police arrested a street vendor on Monday, June 12, for allegedly manhandling a YouTuber from the Netherlands who was recording a video of the busy street for his channel.
The victim, Pedro Mota, was chatting about the area off the busy Chickpete road when the accused, identified as Nawab Hayat Sharif, a vendor, confronted him. Mr Sharif misbehaved and objected to his video recording. Mr. Mota tried to reason with Mr. Sharif, but the latter became aggressive and tried to snatch his camera. Mr. Mota managed to flee from the scene. However, later the video of the incident went viral.
Based on a tweet by netizen Mudassir Ahmed, who cited harassment of foreign tourists by the vendor, Laxman Nimbargi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Division, directed the police to take legal action.
Following Twitter’s complaint, the City Market police traced Mr Sharif and arrested him under section 92 (punishment for certain offenses and nuisance on the street) of the Karnataka Police Act.