Surathkal Moral Policing case: DYFI accuses police of failing to invoke stringent laws after accused released on bail

Mangaluru: Five Bajrang Dal activists, who were arrested by Suratkal police for allegedly abusing and manhandling a group of medical students were released on station bail, police sources said on Wednesday.

The moral policing incident is said to have taken place on Sunday evening when the students were driving back after visiting Malpe beach. The accused allegedly stopped their car at Surathkal checkpost and took details from the students. It is alleged that the accused questioned the women for “being in the company of Muslims” and abused, manhandled the students.

The situation was brought under control after intervention of Police Inspector Sharif, attached to the traffic station, who was passing on the same road in his private car. A video of the incident had gone viral on social media and City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said that five accused have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The accused activists were released late on Tuesday after they obtained station bail.

Condemning the ruling-BJP government over the issue, Democratic Youth Federation of India, in a press release, accused the police of failing to invoke stringent laws against the arrested and allowing them to obtain bail. The attack on medical students is a testimony to the deterioration of law and order in the district, said Santosh Baja, DYFI district unit secretary.

Reacting to the moral policing incident, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah questioned Chief Minister Bommai if Mangaluru was being governed by the BJP govt or Taliban?”