A 28-year-old Muslim man was battered for speaking to a Hindu girl in the Mangaluru City. The man named Shakir was dragged out of his car and was beaten in the heart of the city amid full public view.

The Mangaluru City Police arrested 13 persons as of now for their role in the assault, while the young man is undergoing treatment in a city hospital. The scene of offence took place on the busy Attavar Main Road near KMC Hospital.

S. Murugan, City Police Commissioner, told The Hindu that they held four assaulters immediately at the scene of offence, while remaining others were held later. Some of them who were held are said to be Bajrang Dal members.

Incident at the scene of offence

Shakir was in the car with the girl. Both of them work for a supermarket. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the man was dragged out by a youth group and was taken off clothes leaving him with undergarments. He was tied to an electric pole and was assaulted in full public view.

Incident sent tremors across society

In the afternoon a protest decrying the incident is being planned in Mangaluru by the Democratic Youth Federation of India, while its leader, Muneer Katipalla, criticized the Siddaramaiah government for failure towards realigning of communal forces. He added that four State Cabinet Ministers of the Dakshina Kannada district failed to prevent the attack of communal forces.

Police reaction

Mr. Murugan said that police reacted to the incident swiftly. However, he regretted for not a single person from public daring to question the assailants during the incident.

Meanwhile, the police are looking for other assaults. Those who were held would be produced to the jurisdictional court, said the City Police Commissioner.

(Video Source: One India)

-Sumana