Thaindian News

Bangalore, July 30 (IANS) Karnataka Police Monday arrested four more people in connection with the alleged assault on college-going boys and girls partying Saturday at a home-stay in Mangalore, about 350 km from here.

“We have arrested four more people on the basis of information given by the eight activists who were taken into custody Sunday for their alleged involvement in the incident. Investigation into the case is progressing in the right direction,” Mangalore Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar told IANS.

The arrests of the activists of Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) were made under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Karnataka Prevention of Destruction of Property Act. They were also booked on charges of assault, outraging the modesty of girls, criminal intimidation and intrusion.

“We have booked cases against all the accused for the offences they had committed. We are on the lookout for another 10 activists of the outfit who were also involved in the incident,” Kumar said.

Police intend to produce all the 12 accused in a local court for remand and custodial interrogation after completing the preliminary investigation based on evidence collected at the home-stay and questioning its owners, the victims and eye-witnesses.

The victims — eight boys and five girls, all students of three local colleges in the coastal city — were asked to file statements giving their version of the events.

The events Saturday occurred dramatically when over 20 activists barged into the home-stay and thrashed the youths in the guise of moral policing though they were celebrating the birthday of one of their colleagues.

In a related development, high schools and colleges in the port city were shut as students stayed away from classes protesting against the attack on the students.

Security has been tightened and about 200 additional forces from neighbouring districts were deployed to maintain peace and prevent any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah condemned the attack during a discussion on the incident in the state legislative assembly and sought stringent action against the accused.

“Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2008, the state has been witnessing a series of attacks by the Sangh Parivar activists on women, especially college-going girls, in the guise of moral policing. This amounts to Talibanisation of our peaceful society,” Siddaramaiah said.