Police arrested several men, including two minors, in Belagavi for engaging in moral policing. The individuals were apprehended for allegedly assaulting two cousins whom they mistakenly thought were an interfaith couple. This incident occurred on Saturday, January 6, just two days before another moral policing incident in Haveri, which is about 170 km away.
As per the police, the victims, both in their 20s, were sitting at Fort Lake, engaged in conversation when a group of men, including minors, approached them. Wrongly assuming that the two were in an interfaith relationship, the gang allegedly forced them to a room near the lake and attacked them with pipes.
The woman, a college graduate, had gone to her college to gather some documents. Upon being informed to wait until 3.30 pm, her cousin joined her, and they were waiting at Fort Lake when the incident occurred.
Seven men have been arrested, and two minors apprehended in Belagavi in a case of moral policing. They allegedly assaulted two cousins, mistakenly assuming they were an interfaith couple. The incident occurred at Fort Lake last Saturday, January 6, just two days before another incident in Haveri, approximately 170 km away.
According to the police, the victims, both in their 20s, were sitting at Fort Lake having a conversation when a group of men, including minors, approached them. Wrongly assuming they were a couple in an interfaith relationship, the gang allegedly took them to a room near the lake and assaulted them with pipes.
The woman, a college graduate, had visited her college to collect documents. In hijab, she was waiting with her cousin at Fort Lake until 3.30 pm. Despite explaining they were cousins, the gang did not spare them, according to a senior police officer.
The girl’s mother is Hindu, and her father is Muslim. The girl’s mother and the boy’s mother are sisters. After the incident, the gang fled the spot. The boy’s parents were informed, and they immediately reported the incident to the police, who reached the spot. The boy, who sustained serious injuries, was taken to a nearby hospital and is now reported to be out of danger.
According to the complaint, 17 individuals were allegedly involved in the incident. While three of them have been specifically named in the FIR, the investigation, using CCTV footage from nearby areas, confirmed the presence of only 10 people in the sequence of events. Out of these 10, seven have been arrested, and two minors have been apprehended. One accused is still at large, and efforts are underway to locate him. It is noteworthy that all the accused belong to the minority community, as mentioned by the officer.