Based on a Twitter post about the two-month-old video, the Bengaluru City Police registered a suo motu case and secured the accused.
Published Jun 12, 2023 | 5:38 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2023 | 7:19 PM
Nawab Hayath Sharif confronting Dutch Vlogger&YouTuber Pedro Mota in Chickpete
The Bengaluru City Police have arrested a street vendor for allegedly attempting to manhandle a popular vlogger from the Netherlands, Pedro Mota.
After arresting 58-year-old Nawab Hayath Shariff, the police on Monday, 12 June, said the alleged incident occurred at the Sunday Market, or Chor Bazaar, in the busy Sultan Pete area of the city around two months ago.
The incident came to light after Mota uploaded the video on Sunday, 10 June, on his YouTube channel “Madly Rover” and captioned it Attack at the Thieves’ Market in India.
Mota’s channel has more than 31,000 subscribers, including several Indians.
The video went viral and a concerned netizen, Mudassir Ahmed, it and videos on Twitter and tagged the police, including Bengaluru’s city police commissioner, calling for action. Several others also sought immediate action against the miscreant.
The Cottonpete police registered a suo motu case and arrested Shariff, an autorickshaw driver who sold used clothes on weekends.
He was charged under Section 92 (Punishment for certain street offences and nuisance) of the Karnataka Police Act.
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. https://t.co/EsrOvP4gZ7
— ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) June 12, 2023
The video showed the vlogger capturing the bustling market while providing live commentary.
Shariff confronted Mota and grabbed his hand when the foreigner greeted him with a namaste.
Vlogger Pedro Mota in Białystok, Poland. (File photo/Facebook)
Shariff was seen threatening the visitor, saying he could not shoot in the area.
He also tried to snatch away the camera, even as Mota addressed him as “sir” and pleaded to let him go.
The confrontation ended quickly as Mota walked away.
“Foreigner traveling in India experiences the thieves market in Bangalore, also known as the Sunday market or Chor bazaar [sic],” Mota later wrote in the description of his video on YouTube.
“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 [sic],” he added.
In the comments section, several Indians apologised to Mota for his bitter experience.
“It’s so adorable to watch you speak a few words of Kannada,” a YouTube user, Megha, wrote, adding a heart emoticon.
“We’re sorry for what happened to you with some dudes out there, karma’s watching. I know language can be a barrier, but don’t hesitate to reach out to the crowd around you, to get to help you in such scenarios [sic],” she added.
Another user, who went by the initials JK, wrote: “We say Bangalore is IT capital city of India! but looking at this we are in the same state as 50 years back! such a shame! [sic].”
The Cottonpete police responded fast to Mudassir Ahmed’s tweet, registered a case, identified the accused, and secured him the same day.
“Action has been taken and the person concerned rounded up,” the police responded to Ahmed. “Strict action will be taken against him. No such misbehaviour with foreign tourists will be tolerated.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) Laxman Nimbargi said the video was two months old.
“However, it has come to our notice now. A case has been registered and we have secured the accused,” he said.
“It’s an old video that has come into circulation now. The person harassing (Mota) in the video has been identified, traced and action taken. No scope for such high-handedness in Namma Bengaluru against anybody,” City Police Commissioner B Dayananda tweeted.
It’s a old video which has come into circulation now. The person harassing in the video has been identified traced and action taken. No scope for such highhandedness in Naamma Bengaluru against anybody. https://t.co/gx4dYPZUwe
— B. Dayananda, IPS ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತರು, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ (@CPBlr) June 12, 2023
