In yet another case of suspected “vigilante attack” in the region, a final year computer science student of a college at Surathkal, near the city, was allegedly beaten up by a group of men after his photograph with five girls and two boys from his college went viral on WhatsApp.

The incident took place on Sunday, but according to the police, the photograph was widely circulated on WhatsApp on Saturday.

The victim, Mohammed Riaz, was admitted to a private hospital. Based on a complaint by Riaz’s father, Abdur Rehman, the Surathkal police have registered a case of kidnapping and attempt to murder against the assailants.

When contacted by The Hindu , Riaz said his friend Ritesh, who was in the photo, had come to his (Riyaz’s) house in Kana with another friend, Vinith, around 11 a.m. on Sunday to discuss the photo going viral.

He said that suddenly, four persons came in a car, pushed the three of them inside and drove to Kaikamba, near Bajpe.

Riaz said that at a ground there, five more persons joined the assailants and mercilessly beat him after asking about his religion. They also beat up his two classmates.

“It was like a drama,” Riaz said. “When I asked for water, they forcibly made me drink beer,” he alleged and added that later, they blindfolded him and left him near a petrol station at Mukka on National Highway (Mangaluru–Udupi) 66.

He was later admitted to hospital. At that time, he was not even aware about what happened to Ritesh and Vinith.

In February 2014 at Surathkal beach, a 20-year-old youth was attacked by a group when he was found with a girl.