MANGALURU: Mangaluru City Police in a swift action arrested three youths, including a person in conflict with law, after they allegedly beat up an insurance agent at a city mall within hours of the incident here on Wednesday. The accused assaulted the youth for advocating the stand that India is a

, city police commissioner PS Harsha, said.

The incident took place around 11.30am at a mall in Pandeshwar. A group of students, belonging to a minority community, were discussing issues of national and personal importance. Bhamy Manjunath Shenoy, a resident of BC Road, an insurance executive too was having tea at an adjacent table in the food court. He had come to the mall to meet a client and later went to food court.

When he overheard their (students') discussions, he reportedly went to their table, espousing the stand that India is a Hindu nation. Irked by this, the students took him to task and asked him to stay from their discussion. There was heated exchange of words between them, which led to the group assaulting, Manujanth, the complainant. The video of the incident went viral on social media.

Harsha who named the accused as Mohiyuddin Safwan and Abdul Rahim Saad, said action will be taken against the person in conflict with the law, as per provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act. Harsha also urged the public not to circulate the video or sensationalise the incident, adding that police will act against the perpetrators as per law. A case was registered in Mangaluru South Police station on a complaint from Shenoy, Harsha added.