Mangalore: Activists of a self-styled pro-Hindu moral brigade called Sri Rama Sena barged into a pub in the coastal city of Mangalore on Saturday and beat up young girls and women for "violating traditional Indian norms".
The brain behind it all, Pramod Mutalik is the President of the Sri Ram Sena, a small right wing group which is now gaining prominence in the state by indulging in such acts of terror.
"The girls were indulging in immoral activities and taking drugs in the pub. We were merely chasing them out of the pub," said Mutalik.
The BJP government in the state has washed its hands of Mutalik and the RSS says his outfit Sri Ram Sena is not part of their parivar.
Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa is now facing flak from all quarters, and has promised, justice will be delivered.
"What happened in Mangalore was unfortunate. The police have been given a free hand to catch all the accused," said Yeddyurappa.
Mangalore a bustling cosmopolitan coastal town is fast emerging, as the "Laboratory of Karnataka". The epicentre of communally mobilised politics for long, the region has seen individual and institutional rights shrink rapidly under the BJP government of B S Yediyurappa.
The state police, which have been accused of being soft to these groups, have put the blame on the media for such acts.
"Media should have informed us when they reached the location. You were had in glove with them. The people who have been arrested have been taken into judicial custody," said DGP, Karnataka R sri Kumar.
The Sri Ram Sena say they attacked this pub because they believe it was indulging in prostitution and drug peddling. The civic society in the state is horrified.
"This was worst ever act of crime in the place of Mangalore, especially on teenage girls. Police could have dealt the matter properly," said social commentator, Kripa Alwa.
However, the question that remains to be asked is what rights do these foot soldiers of Pramod Mutalik have to beat youngsters and the silence of the state government.
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