Bengaluru: A controversy has erupted in Hubballi, Karnataka, after a BJP woman worker alleged she was assaulted and stripped during police action linked to a voter list revision dispute. A video from the incident surfaced on Wednesday, prompting outrage and demands for accountability.

The incident took place under the Keshvapur police station limits and involves BJP worker Sujatha Handi (also known as Vijayalaxmi Handi). She alleges that police personnel assaulted her while acting on a complaint filed by Hubballi–Dharwad Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla.

The complaint relates to disagreements that reportedly arose during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, where Handi had accompanied officials. Political friction over alleged voter name deletions had earlier led to clashes between Congress and BJP workers.

A video from the scene shows police personnel both men and women, surrounding the BJP worker inside a bus, triggering shock and concern across political circles. The woman alleges that she was manhandled and her clothes were torn during the detention.

Police counter claim: “She removed clothes herself”

Police, however, have disputed the allegations. According to officials, the woman was being taken into custody in connection with existing cases when she allegedly resisted arrest.

Police say that during the altercation, she removed her clothes herself, claiming that officers were being falsely accused of misconduct.

"On 1st January, there was a survey by the local competent authorities and while the survey team went to Chalukya Nagar in Keshwapur police station limits, there was some difference of opinion and there was some quarrel among the local residents and our police immediately intervened and tried to mellow down the situation and take the control of the situation and in the process three cases are registered on the lady in question who is in the video and while she was to be arrested in one of the cases wherein a localite has accused her of trying to kill that person in that case she was arrested and in the process of arrest she was taken into our vehicle by about 8-10 our women officers. She undressed herself and tried to escape from the police custody," said Hubballi-Dharwad CP N Shashikumar.

He added, "With the support of local people, our officers and staff have only tried to get an alternative, separate cloth for her and made her wear a separate dress... She has five cases registered against her in previous years, and this year, four cases are registered. All this happened on the road. While she was detained and being taken to custody, the whole chain of events took place on the road. A lot of people have made videos of it, but the video in question is obscene, and nobody should circulate such videos. It's an offence; we are going to take up a suo motto case on the individual who has circulated this video and taken this video."

BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakayi condemned the incident, calling it “inhuman” and seeking action against the officers involved. He argued that the matter stemmed from political rivalry tied to voter list activities and said he had briefed senior party leadership.

The incident has intensified political tensions in the region, with leaders from both parties trading allegations.