A year on, the phenomenon of 'immoral' policing remains unchanged

Mangalore: Even after a year since the state assembly elections were held and the new government came to power in Karnataka, there has been no sign of decrease in the instances of moral policing by communal groups in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada.

Although very few such incidents are reported in news portals and other media, it is not that these groups have softened their stance against youth belonging to two different communities hang out together. Many a times, these shocking incidents go unreported by the youth who are threatened and sometimes even beaten by hooligans in parks, beaches or other public places.

The home-stay attack, where young girls and boys were manhandled, beaten and thrashed by a mob of hooligans belonging to a saffron organisation, which occurred nearly two years ago, still lingers on the minds of people in Dakshina Kannada.

The accused in the attack were arrested and put behind bars for almost a year, since they were booked under grave charges. However, there are not many cases of moral policing that have been reported. There are still fewer instances where complaints are actually lodged in the police station.

Shockingly, some of the couplescaught' together by the vigilante groups have been sent home after being given an earful by them at police stations.

Such is the state of affairs in the district, that no finger is pointed out at the members of these fundamentalist groups that openly, and rather proudly, engage in unruly behaviour towards alarmed youngsters who are threatened into keeping mum.

Politicians pass the buck

When the Congress government came to power in the state last year, home minister K J George and the ministers from the coastal district gave statements on putting a complete halt to moral policing in Dakshina Kannada. Although a few major incidents of assault by Hindutva and Muslim extremist groups have taken place since last year, no strict action had been taken in this regard. Emboldened by this, such groups continue to harass and threaten couples from different communities found together, opines DYFI district president Muneer Katipalla.
The most pointed-upon groups that are alleged to be indulging in moral policing are right wing groups such as Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagarana Vedike and Popular Front of India. However, the leaders of these groups have not justified theirimmoral' policing acts.

What is essential in that the government as well as the police department to take a strict stance on the kind of assaults inflicted on young girls and boys by the so-calledprotectors of culture' and take immediate action by booking them under appropriate charges.

So is a change in the mindset of the society that chooses to remain silent and indifferent towards the assailants and the fundamentalist policies that the groups try to impose on them.