GUJRAT: Gakhar Mandi city police have booked and arrested a YouTuber for physically harassing women in the guise of prank videos to attract more and more followers through his apparent move of asking the women to wear Hijab.

The action has been taken following the issue was highlighted by the women on social media as well as a formal complaint was lodged by Hassan Butt, a resident of Noshehra Road (Gujranwala), with police.

According to the complainant, suspect Muhammad Ali Ansari of Mohallah Shah Salman [who runs his YouTube channel] was spotted by him while allegedly doing ‘vulgar’ acts with women through pulling their Hijabs in front of a local college whereas three of his unidentified accomplices were busy in making videos.

Hassan said when he tried to stop the suspect from doing so, he took out a pistol and along with his accomplices also threatened him (complainant) with dire consequences and hurled abuses.

A spokesman for Gujranwala police told Dawn the suspect and his three unidentified accomplices were booked under sections 354, 506 (B), 294 and 34 of PPC and the YouTuber held.

He said CPO Sarfraz Falki had taken notice of the prank videos and directed Gujranwala Saddar SP Abdul Wahab to take action against the suspect. He said the suspect had been sent behind bars by ladies police constables aimed at teaching him a lesson to respect womenfolk.

In most of his videos, the suspect can be seen forcing the women to wear Hijab, touching and dragging the women in a few scenes asking them to wear Hijab whereas some women also angrily reacted.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2021