Mangaluru: Police have arrested three youths for allegedly assaulting an engineering student after he was seen having lunch with a woman student from a different community at a hotel in Moodbidri.

The accused have been identified as Prem Bhandari, Sanjay Hegde and Ritil, all residents of Moodbidri. Police sources said the three are associated with a Hindutva organisation.

According to police, the incident occurred after a male student and a woman student from an engineering college went to a local hotel for lunch.

The accused allegedly confronted the male student over his friendship with the woman and assaulted him while the two were having lunch together.

Following a complaint, Moodbidri police registered a case and arrested the three accused on Wednesday.

The accused were subsequently released on bail, police sources said.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and the motive behind the alleged assault.