India Shamed and Shocked by Monsters of Mangalore : NDTV
Maya Sharma - NDTV
Jan 26: India has been shamed again. Goons of a right wing Hindu outfit Sri Ram Sena in Mangalore barged into a pub and beat up women over the weekend - in its latest round of moral policing.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has reacted to the incident in Mangalore saying those responsible will be taken to task. He said that the police has been given full authority to take appropriate measures.
The women's only fault was that they were found in the pub. Members of the Sri Ram Sena, who carried out the attack, justified their shameful actions.
More than 13 people have been arrested for the vicious attack as outrage over the incident spreads across the country.
The miscreants have been sent to judicial custody till January 27 and have not been allowed bail. The miscreants have been charged with criminal assault, intimidation, outrage of modesty and criminal trespass.
About 40 men were involved in the attack. Among the arrested are the district secretary and the joint convenor of the Sri Ram Sena.
A special team has been set up to arrest those responsible for the attack. The incident took place over the weekend after the men, completely unrepentant, say they received complaints suggesting the women were dancing 'obscenely' in the pub and they decided to act.
The hooligans chased the girls out, attacked men who tried to protect them, there are also reports that the girls were molested.
"So far we have arrested some people and we are further investigating the situation, we will take strong action," said A M Prasad, Inspector General, West Mangalore.
Talking to NDTV, Karnataka Home Minister VC Acharya said action was being taken against the perpetrators.
This is sadly not an isolated incident of groups taking the law into their own hands - churches and prayer halls around Mangalore were attacked just a few months ago over alleged conversions.
In Bangalore, rave parties on the outskirts of the city were raided - not by police - but by members of the Kannada Rakshana Vedike.
A state that once had a strong image of peace and tolerance seems to be heading in a very different direction now.
BJP Condemns Mangalore Pub Attack
NEW DELHI: BJP President Rajnath Singh on Monday condemned the attack on women in a Mangalore pub and said he will hold discussions with the Karnataka chief minister on the issue.
About 15 to 20 activists, reportedly belonging to Sri Ram Sene, had barged into a local pub in Mangalore yesterday and beaten up women guests accusing them of behaving in an "obscene manner."
"The act is condemnable and whoever is responsible need to be booked and justice need to be delivered," Singh told reporters here.
"I would be holding discussions with Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on the issue on Monday in Bangalore," he added.
He would be taking a halt in Bangalore on his way to Mysore where he will attend a rally.
Mangalore incident is Talibanisation of India: Renuka
Union Women and child development minister Renuka Chowdhury likened the incident to Talibanisation. "This is Talibanisation of India, it will not be tolerated. I will approach the EC to disenfranchise the organisation involved in this and those associated with it. It is unfortunate that this incident comes two days before the girl child day. These people are not ready for the Republic of India."
The Sena says it will repeat such attacks despite the huge public outcry across the country.
"There are some activities going on here that spoil Hindu tradition. We've just shown our frustration at that assault on Indian tradition. We don't like such indecent behaviour and tried to stop it,” said Sri Rama Sena spokesperson, Dinakar.
But Congress sought to play it down. Part spokesperson Veerappa Moily said, “I can’t call it as a Hindu group. It’s an act of hooliganism. No people will be allowed to do that. Taking the law into their own hands won’t be allowed”.
Daijiworld Follow-up:
Mangalore: Attack on Pub - 13 Arrested, Two Sene Leaders Absconding
Mangalore: ‘Preservers’ of Culture or Destroyers of Society?
Mangalore: Outrage over Attack on Girls - Issue Gains National Attention
Mangalore: Another Attack by Miscreants - Two Injured
Mangalore: Miscreants Rough Up Customers at City Lounge
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