Two Mysuru police officers allegedly harass young couple sitting in park

Two police officers in Mysuru allegedly harassed and intimidated a young couple for sitting together in a park, sparking widespread criticism after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The incident, which was shared via an Instagram reel by the account 'echoes_of_yathartha', has reignited public debate regarding moral policing and the misuse of police power in public spaces across Karnataka.

According to the social media post, the two police personnel used abusive language and intimidated the young man and woman. The officers purportedly told the couple that "one girl and one boy cannot be seated together" at that location.

The creator of the reel described the confrontation as a "misuse of power," noting that the couple was threatened despite not engaging in any unlawful activity. The post clarified that it was aimed specifically at the conduct of the two officers involved, rather than the Karnataka Police as a whole.

The incident has led to renewed discussions among student groups and young adults about the right of consenting adults to occupy public spaces without harassment.

Aratrika of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) said that questioning couples in public reflects deep-rooted social attitudes. She noted that such incidents are often enabled by broader social gatekeeping, including by Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) who tend to exercise power against vulnerable groups, including young adults, unmarried couples, and students.

Vishwas Srinivas, a Gender and Sexuality Fellow at Leading with Pride, stated that the role of the police is limited to ensuring parks are not used for unlawful activities. However, he alleged that officers frequently exceed their mandate by policing consensual interactions. He added that tactics such as threatening to inform parents disproportionately affect women and discourage couples from using the state's limited public spaces.