Girls assaulted at Mangalore pub

Your Ad Here

MANGALORE: A fanatical right-wing group notorious for creating communal tensions and indulging in moral policing has struck again in Karnataka,his time assaulting women guests at a bar in Mangalore. ( Watch )

The activists of Sri Rama Sena entered the Amnesia Bar and Restaurant on Dr Shivaram Karanth Road on Saturday evening and threatened the women sitting inside. The men, who took objection to women drinking alcohol, pushed them outside, many women falling to the ground while they were being driven out.

Mangalore North Circle inspector Umesh G Shet said a group of 10-15 men entered the pub in the evening and started arguing with the guests. ``They got into an altercation with the women customers saying they were dressed indecently,'' he said.

The men also told the women that they would face dire consequences if they were seen in pubs again. The group left the bar after threatening its owner.

The incident drew instant criticism from various sections of the society, who strongly condemned the moral policing by members of the Sri Rama Sena, which was involved in violence during Karnataka's Cauvery water dispute with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Police have arrested 13 men in connection with the incident.

Police said those arrested were activists of Sri Rama Sena The arrested Sena activists claimed that they carried out the attack ``because of the attitude of the young women'', police sources said.

The Sena activists accused the women of ``involving themselves in immoral activities, including consuming alcohol, dressing indecently, and mixing with youths of other faith''.

The men will be produced in a court on Tuesday.

The arrests came after police questioned the owner of the pub and customers present there at the time of the incident. ``The owner was initially reluctant to file a complaint, but relented after we assured him of police protection,'' said inspector Umesh Shet.

Police are looking for Shashidhar Shetty, a local Sri Rama Sene leader, and Preetham, a student leader, for issuing comments supporting the violent incident. Umesh Shet said they would be arrested on charges of conspiring with those who were involved in the attack.

The Sena was also responsible for the attack on the Bangalore home of Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi's daughter Selvi during the Cauvery protests in September 2007.

What is Sri Rama Sena

Sri Rama Senais a pro-Hindu apolitical organization based in Hubli and promoted by Promod Mutalik, who floated the organization after parting ways with the BJP a few years ago. The organization is known for celebrating all Hindu festivals on a grand scale. But is infamous for creating communal tensions and moral policing. It claims to be a ``protector'' of swadeshi ideology and Hindutva.