Mangalore: Moral policing - Girl, boy assaulted at beach

Mangalore, Jan 16 (DHNS): Members of a Hindu organisation allegedly assaulted a boy and a girl belonging to different communities, when they were walking on a beach near Surathkal on Wednesday.

It is said that the female student of an engineering college was taking a stroll with a boy from another community, when the members of the organisation took them to task and assaulted them, before informing the police. The police, who should have arrested those who had assaulted the boy and girl, took the boy and the girl to the police station, sources said. It is said that the girl is the niece of a former ZP member (from BJP).

The local police said that it was true that Hindu organisations had stopped the couple and interrogated them. However, the couple were not assaulted, they said.

“We rushed to the spot and gave protection to them. In spite of asking the boy and the girl to file a complaint, they have not done so, fearing consequences from family members.”

City Police Commissioner R Hithendra said, “the local police have said that the boy and girl were not assaulted. I have directed senior police officers to look into the case. No one has the right to interrogate a boy and girl. I have directed the Surathkal police to act against the leaders of Hindu organisations for harassing the couple.”