Karnataka: Bengaluru man threatens acid attack on woman over her clothes; employer fires him after screenshot of his message went viral

Bengaluru: In a disturbing incident that has sparked widespread outrage, Nikith Shetty, an employee of Etios Services, was fired after his threatening message directed at a woman regarding her choice of clothing went viral.

The incident came to light when the woman husband and journalist Shahbaz Ansar shared a screenshot of the message on social media.

The alarming message, sent by Shetty, urged Shahbaz to advise his wife to dress "appropriately," particularly in Karnataka, warning that he might resort to throwing acid on her face otherwise.

This threat incited immediate backlash, prompting Shahbaz to take swift action by reporting the incident to the authorities. In his X, he tagged the Bengaluru police, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, calling for urgent intervention to prevent any potential harm.

<

This is serious. @DgpKarnataka @CMofKarnataka @DKShivakumar . This person is threatening to throw acid on my wife's face for her choice of clothes. Please take immediate action against this person to prevent any incident from happening. pic.twitter.com/N6fxS59Kqm

— Shahbaz Ansar (@ShahbazAnsar_) October 9, 2024 >

Etios Services quickly responded to the situation, issuing a statement expressing their dismay over Shetty's behaviour.

"We are deeply saddened to address a serious incident involving one of our employees, Nikith Shetty, who made a threatening statement regarding another individual’s choice of clothing. This behaviour is absolutely unacceptable and goes against the core values we uphold at Etios Services," the company stated.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Etios Digital Services (@etiosservices)

The incident has highlighted ongoing issues surrounding threats of violence based on personal choice and the importance of holding individuals accountable for such actions.

The community remains vigilant against similar threats and stands in solidarity with victims of such intimidation.

This incident raises critical questions about societal attitudes towards personal expression and the alarming prevalence of violence against women based on their choices.