Andhra Woman Hits Back at Alleged Harasser, Villagers Join Protest

A shocking incident in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district has drawn widespread attention after a woman who was allegedly facing repeated harassment publicly confronted the accused, prompting villagers to retaliate against him before police stepped in.

The incident occurred in Arikera village under Pattikonda mandal , where a 32-year-old woman had reportedly arrived to visit her parents. Police said a man from the same village had been allegedly stalking and harassing her for the past few days, following her wherever she went and making inappropriate advances.

The situation reached a flashpoint on Tuesday afternoon when the accused allegedly misbehaved with the woman in public. In a bold response, she confronted him before onlookers and hit him with a slipper, triggering outrage among villagers gathered at the spot.

Furious over the alleged harassment, locals reportedly caught hold of the accused, assaulted him, shaved his head and paraded him through the village with a garland of slippers around his neck. Videos related to the incident quickly spread across social media platforms, drawing intense reactions.

After receiving information, police rushed to the village and brought the situation under control. Pattikonda DSP B. Venkataramaiah stated that stringent action would be taken against those involved in crimes against women and reiterated that the police maintain a “zero tolerance” approach toward harassment cases.

However, the officer also warned that taking the law into one’s own hands is unacceptable, adding that public assault and humiliation are punishable offences under the law.

Police registered a case under Sections 323, 355, 506, 341 and 34 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) . Sources said efforts are underway from both families to settle the matter amicably. The incident has become a major topic of discussion across the district.