BJP protests after cousins from different religions fall victim to moral policing in Belagavi; 9 arrested

The gang allegedly assaulted them with pipes and rods for hours after mistaking them to be lovers belonging to different religions.

BJP leader and former Karnataka deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa condemned the incident and criticised the government, saying the law-and-order situation in the state was in tatters.

Also read: Dalit show of strength in village after Caste Hindus assault youth

Brutal attack

Recalling the incident, the police the miscreants initially showered profanities on the cousins, questioning the man’s presence with the woman.

As the situation escalated, they tried to strangulate the man and pulled out pipes and rods to attack them. They even took away their mobile phones.

“The incident occurred when the duo was sitting at the Killa lake after returning from Anjuman College. They had come to the city to collect documents from the college to apply for the Yuva Nidhi scheme,” Market Police Inspector Vittal LH told South First.

“A group of approximately 18 men confronted them, believing them as lovers. In reality, they are cousins. They attacked the man with pipes and rods, and also hurled casteist remarks at him.”

“Thirteen more individuals joined the group, taking the cousins to separate rooms, where they were thrashed for several hours until evening,” the officer said.

“The victims informed their family members about the incident. They alerted the police, who rushed to the spot and apprehended around eight accused.”

“Among the 17 accused, two are minors. As cousins are still in hospital, undergoing treatment for injuries,” Vittal said.

Also read: 11 held in 3 moral policing incidents in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada

Nine people arrested

The police have invoked relevant provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities Act also against the men, aged between 17 and 30. The police did not disclose the identities of any of the accused but named the cousins.

“We arrested nine people. There are at least two minors involved in the incident. We are verifying their role in the incident,” Belagavi City Police Commissioner SN Siddaramappa told South First.

“Though the victims belong to different religions, they are cousins,” the officer said, adding measures would be initiated to prevent such incidents in the future.

Also read: Bengaluru’s Mount Carmel College to become fully co-ed

Eshwarappa express concern

Meanwhile, BJP leader Eshwarappa expressed deep concern over the state of law and order in Karnataka.

After visiting the victims in the district hospital in Belagavi, he criticised the government’s apparent lack of action, “Looking at this incident, it is not known whether the government is alive or not in the state,” he said.

He alleged that there was an increase in the activities of “Muslim goons” in the state, adding such incidents were becoming alarmingly frequent.

He went on to allege that the ‘Congress party is deliberately fostering a divide between Hindus and Muslims for electoral gains’, claiming, “the chief minister and the home minister should send an investigation team to Belgaum to investigate the matter.”

Eshwarappa questioned the government’s response, particularly in light of the Minister for Power KJ George’s assertion against moral policing by Hindus. “The government should take decisive action against the accused in the incident, rejecting any passive role by the police,” Eshwarappa urged.

Highlighting the seriousness of the situation, he emphasised that the accused individuals boasted about assaulting numerous people, prompting the construction of a shelter.

“The government must be proactive in preventing such incidents in the future. The Social Welfare Department has pledged a compensation of ₹2.5 lakh to the victimised youth,” he appealed to the government to provide necessary facilities for the victims.