Mistaking cousins for interfaith couple, group attacks them in Belagavi; 7 men, two minors held
Belagavi (Karnataka), Jan 11: Seven men were arrested and two minors apprehended in a case of moral policing in which they allegedly assaulted two cousins whom they mistook to be an interfaith couple, in Belagavi, police said on Thursday.
The incident took place last Saturday, January 6, two days before another instance of moral policing happened in Haveri, about 170 km away.
According to the police, the victims who are in their 20s were sitting at Fort Lake here and having a conversation when a gang of men, including minors, arrived. Assuming that they were a couple in an interfaith relationship, the gang allegedly took the two persons to a room near the lake and assaulted them with pipes.
The woman, who is a graduate, had visited her college to collect some documents. She was told to wait till 3.30 pm, so her cousin joined her and they were waiting at fort lake.
She was wearing hijab while the boy sported a tilak. Assuming that they were a couple, the accused assaulted them. Despite the victims telling the gang that they were cousins, they were not spared, a senior police officer said.
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The girl's mother is a Hindu and her father is a Muslim. The girl's mother and the boy's mother are sisters, he said.
After the incident, the gang fled the spot. Meanwhile, the boy told his parents who immediately informed the police who then reached the spot, the officer said.
In the attack, the boy sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. He is said to be out of danger, he added.
As per the complaint, there were 17 people involved in the incident. Three among them have been named in the FIR. However, to check the movement of people and ascertain the sequence of events, when the CCTV cameras of the nearby areas of the scene of crime was checked, the involvement of only 10 people could be established, the officer said.
"Out of the 10 people, we have arrested seven and apprehended two minors. One of the accused is still absconding and our teams are trying to trace him. All the accused belonged to the minority community," he added.
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Punishment for those disrupting assembly proceedings, warns Speaker UT Khader
Belagavi: Speaker U.T. Khader on Friday warned that members who disrupt Assembly proceedings by talking in their seats during debates will be made to sit in the House for an entire day as a disciplinary measure.
The warning came after the Question Hour, when Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad was permitted to initiate a discussion on the development of North Karnataka.
At this point, expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal objected, stating that he had been seeking a debate for the past three days but had not been given an opportunity.
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Responding to the objection, Speaker Khader said Bellad had already been granted permission and assured Yatnal that he would be allowed to speak at the next opportunity. He noted that even as a serious discussion was underway, several MLAs were speaking among themselves with their microphones on, disrupting the proceedings.
Expressing displeasure over the conduct of members, Khader likened the situation to football, where players receive red, yellow, or white cards for violations. Similarly, he said, the Assembly issues warning cards to members who disturb the House. If they fail to correct themselves despite repeated warnings, they would be required to remain seated in the Assembly hall for a full day as punishment, he stated.
