BJP woman worker alleges ‘stripping by police’ in Hubballi; Commissioner says, ‘she removed clothes herself’

A woman worker of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that she was stripped and assaulted by police while she was being arrested in Hubballi, Karnataka. A video of the incident circulating on social media has triggered shock and serious concern.

In the viral video, a policeman is seen holding a BJP woman worker while she is reportedly without clothes. The video allegedly shows the male police officer assaulting the woman and using vulgar expletives.

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The victim has been identified as BJP worker Sujatha Handi, also known as Vijayalaxmi Handi. As per the victim, the police allegedly assaulted and stripped her while executing a complaint filed by Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla in Hubballi city in Karnataka, in connection with a dispute arising from a voter revision exercise.

The incident occurred in Chalukya Nagara, within the jurisdiction of Keshavapur Police Station in Hubballi-Dharwad, under the supervision of the city police commissioner.

Police deny any misconduct

The police have refuted the media reports of misconduct by the police and called it “completely incorrect”. Police Commissioner, Dharwad, N. Shashi Kumar has claimed that the BJP worker removed her clothes herself.

CP N Shashikumar said, “On 5th January, one lady was taken into custody. She was arrested in one of the cases lodged by one of the locals in an attempt to murder case, where she had brutally attacked the other person. In that case, she was arrested. While the arrest process was underway, there was a lot of resistance from her and also from people who were connected with her… In the process, she bit one of our sub-inspectors, and 3-4 of our staff were very badly assaulted, and they were obstructed from performing their duty. She has about 9 cases registered against her.”

The police clarified that the woman was still wearing clothes while she was taken to the (police) vehicle. However, when she was taken inside the vehicle, she took her clothes off and threw them away. Dharwad CP further stated, “Our women police staff brought her clothes and made her wear them.”

#WATCH | Karnataka: Hubballi-Dharwad CP N Shashikumar says, “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… pic.twitter.com/3BjAvwuuQ8

— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026

Reportedly, the Congress corporator filed a complaint against Handi at the Keshvapur police station after she undertook voter mapping as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list. The Congress corporator alleged that she had brought SIR-BLO officials and got voters’ names deleted during the process.

So far, three separate cases have been registered in the whole incident.