Women Protest Against Alleged Sexual Harassment by APMC Secretary in Karnataka

Protest at APMC Office in Mangaluru

On July 27, in Mangaluru, Karnataka, a group of women staged a protest outside the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) office in Backampadi, alleging sexual harassment against the secretary, C.H. Mohan. Led by Pratibha Kulai, a member of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission, approximately 25 women entered the APMC office demanding action regarding the alleged misconduct.

Kulai informed that the female sanitation worker employed at APMC was repeatedly contacted by Mohan, urging her to settle his demands. It was reported that Mohan instructed the woman to wear a green saree on Monday as a signal to comply with his requests, threatening her job security if she refused.

According to Kulai, the woman, who is a single mother raising two children, reached out to an elderly woman in the community after experiencing this alleged harassment. This led to local women becoming aware of the situation and deciding to confront the official. Kulai stated, “The woman earns ₹15,000 a month, and the officer is trying to exploit her vulnerable financial situation.”

She added, “We have warned that if anything happens to this woman, the officer will be held responsible.” As of now, Mohan has not responded to these allegations, and it remains unclear whether a formal complaint has been lodged with the police regarding the incident.