The Hindu 5 October 2010
link: http://hindu.com/2010/10/05/stories/2010100551210500.htm
Police, Hindutva vigilantes harass youth
Sudipto Mondal
After mob attack trio in bus, police drag them to station
Cases booked against six Bajrang Dal activists
SP says action will be taken against erring policemen
KOWDICHAR(PUTTUR TALUK): The Puttur (Rural) police detained and interrogated three youth, who were travelling together in a bus from Mangalore to Sullia, for committing a ‘moral violation' late on Sunday. Their only ‘crime' was that two of them were Muslim youth and the third was a Hindu woman.
One of them told The Hindu that an assistant sub-inspector forcibly took them to the police station, allegedly on the basis of a tip off from Bajrang Dal activists, who waylaid the bus and assaulted the trio in full public view.
Requesting anonymity, the youth said: “Four persons sporting saffron scarves and vermillion tilaks forced their way into the bus. They demanded to know our names and when they discovered our identities they tried to assault us, but the other passengers stopped them.”
The bus was stopped once again at Kowdichar (four km away) by an even bigger mob. “The mob comprised autodrivers, shopkeepers and even some women. They abused and assaulted us and wanted to know our relationship with our woman friend. Some of them threatened to beat us to death,” he said.
Police action
At this point, the police arrived. Instead of taking action against the mob, the police dragged the victims to the station. “The police were even more foul-mouthed and kept threatening to file a case of ‘Love Jihad' against us. They questioned us for over an hour, asking what business we had with a Hindu woman,” he said.
Amit Singh, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Puttur Division), who rushed to Puttur Police Station on a tip-off, put a stop to the harassment. “Just before he came, the police were preparing to beat me with a lathi,” the victim alleged.
Mr. Singh led a raid in which four Bajrang Dal activists — Rajesh (26), Chandrashekar (28), K. Girish (29) and K. Sushant (25) — were arrested. Two more leaders Mohan Gowda and Vasanth Gowda were picked up later. All six were booked under Sections 147, 341 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
Reacting to the incident, Superintendent of Police A.S. Rao said, “We have been trying very hard since the pub attack [January 24, 2009], to root out vigilantism by self-appointed moral police. If some policemen are found to be uncooperative, the punishment will be severe.” Expressing regret over the behaviour of the police, he said departmental action would be taken against the errant officers.
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