Two Indian sisters have been hailed for their courage after a video that has gone viral on social media showed them fighting back against youths who had allegedly sexually harassed them on a packed bus.

Filmed on a mobile phone it shows the women aged 19 and 22, hitting out notably with a belt, watched with indifference by other passengers.

Local politician O. P. Dhankar of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party says the sisters are an inspiration: “Every girl should show the same bravery as these two. They will both be awarded the equivalent of around 400 euros each and the government will investigate the case.”

Police later arrested three suspects.

Women’s safety in India has been under the spotlight since the gang-rape and murder of a student on a bus in Delhi two years ago. In this latest case, passengers have been criticised for failing to intervene and Indian media reports say the driver and conductor of the bus have been suspended.

Watch: video of the Indian sisters fighting back: