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Days after the arrest of a man who secretly filmed women on Bengaluru's Namma Metro and posted the footage online, another Instagram account has come under scrutiny for uploading non-consensual videos of women in public spaces across Bengaluru.
The account named @indianwalk1m and the display name IndianWalk has uploaded over 57 videos as of June 10. The clips, largely shot on MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, UB City and adjoining streets as well as parts of Koramangala, show women walking in public, often with the camera focused on their bodies, without their knowledge or consent. The account has gained over 9,500 followers.
The account’s bio reads, “Walk for me. Capturing the GOLDEN TIME with you ALL (sic).” In its Instagram stories, the account attempted to justify its content by stating: “This video features public spaces… All content is intended for capturing Beautiful movement and entertainment purposes... I have many consent I share openly with you all… If You Appear In Video And Prefer Not To Be Featured PLEASE Contact Us Directly… We Will Address Your Concerns Promptly. Love and respect to All. (sic)”
However, none of the women featured appear to have visibly given consent. The videos are also cross-posted on a YouTube channel with the same name, which has over 10,500 subscribers. TNM found that the channel contains similar videos of women walking on the streets of Bengaluru and Goa, including couples holding hands and close-up shots taken from behind. One video even features actor Ashish Vidyarthi walking in public.
This comes shortly after Bengaluru police arrested Digant, a 27-year-old accounts employee, for operating the Instagram handle @metro_chicks, which featured voyeuristic videos of women on the metro. The account uploaded 14 such videos, zooming in on women's faces and torsos with intrusive captions like “finding beautiful girls on Namma Metro.” The videos were also shared via a Telegram channel.
Following public outrage, the Banashankari police registered a suo motu FIR on May 20. Digant was booked under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2008 (for publishing obscene material online), and Section 78(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (for stalking). Police said the accused filmed women during his daily commute and had no prior criminal record.
Priya Varadarajan, gender rights activist and founder of the organisation Durga, said that while the circulation of non-consensual videos isn’t new, it speaks to a much deeper problem: the way public spaces are still unsafe for women and vulnerable people.
What is happening here, Priya argues, is gender-based violence. “You don't see this happening to men, and you only see it happening to vulnerable people. In the last few years, the definition of violence has expanded — it's not just someone getting beaten or getting sexually violated or molested. Violence is also when someone is recording you without your consent.”
“It’s not just sexualisation. There’s also a constant fear of being surveilled,” Priya said. “You are just walking and talking with a friend, and you’re worried that someone may be recording you.”
Priya says that the damage is both immediate and long-term. “Public spaces are still designed for and dominated by men. The anticipation, the mental labour that women go through before stepping out, thinking about what to wear, whether their shirt is too transparent, whether their cleavage is visible, these are pressures cishet men don’t even have to consider.”
“There’s also the aftermath. If someone goes home and says they were filmed, the first question is often, ‘Why did you wear that plunging neckline?’ The blame never leaves the victim.”