Surat: At least 10 female physiotherapists in Surat were allegedly sexually harassed over their mobile phones by a man from Maharashtra, who sent them obscene videos and sought physiotherapy treatment from them.The harassment, which continued for around 15 days, prompted the Surat Physiotherapists Doctors Association to approach the Surat Cyber Crime police for help.Following a complaint from one of the physiotherapists, police registered an FIR and launched a probe. Based on technical analysis, a team was sent to Maharashtra to apprehend the accused. He is yet to be arrested.According to the complaint, the [physiotherapist was on duty on July 24 when she received a call from a man who identified himself as Tushar. He told her that a relative who was an orthopedic doctor had advised him to undergo physiotherapy and said he would share his medical details on WhatsApp.The man subsequently sent his name, address and details of his alleged problem along with an obscene video in which he exposed his private parts. He then asked the physiotherapist to provide online treatment for pain in a specific part of his body.When she advised him to consult a male physiotherapist instead, the accused allegedly continued sending obscene pictures and pressuring her to provide treatment. She eventually blocked his number.After learning that several women physiotherapists were being targeted in a similar manner, office-bearers of the association approached the cybercrime police. They told police that the accused was allegedly using the pretext of seeking physiotherapy exercises and counselling to make obscene video and voice calls to women doctors.Cybercrime DCP Bishakha Jain directed the registration of a complaint. Police used details from WhatsApp voice and video calls for technical analysis and traced the suspect to Maharashtra. A team was subsequently dispatched to apprehend him.The accused has been booked under BNS Sections 75(1), 78(1) and 79 for sexual harassment, stalking and words, gestures or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
