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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Supriya Sule vows to rebuild NCP (SP) with renewed commitment
Mumbai, Nov 24: Senior NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule said on Sunday that her party, which won 10 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections, respects people’s mandate and pledged to work towards a capable, inclusive and progressive state.
In a statement on X, the Baramati MP promised to rebuild their party and said it would move forward with determination despite its dismal show. Her party and its Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) collectively bagged only 46 of the state’s 288 assembly seats.
“We respect and humbly accept the verdict of the people in the assembly elections. This result is a moment for deep reflection and renewal. We will introspect, learn, and rebuild with honesty, hard work, and an unshakable commitment to the values we stand for,” Sule wrote.
She stressed that her party was committed to creating a capable, inclusive, and progressive Maharashtra.
“Our vision of a capable, inclusive, and progressive Maharashtra remains unchanged. We reaffirm our pledge to fight for the rights, dignity, and self-respect of farmers, workers, women, youth, and every marginalised section of society,” Sule stated.
Sule said that her party will continue to carry forward the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, and social reformers like Jyotiba Phule. “We are determined to carry forward the timeless ideals of Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar with renewed energy and purpose,” she wrote on the social media platform.
Sule congratulated those who had won in the elections. “We hope you will serve Maharashtra with dedication and prioritise the welfare of every citizen,” she said.
The MP, the daughter of NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, expressed gratitude to the voters, party workers, their MVA allies and the authorities for facilitating the elections.
“A heartfelt thank you to all voters, the diligent workers and leaders of NCP (SP), our Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, the Election Commission, police, administration, media, and everyone who contributed to making this election a vibrant celebration of democracy," Sule added.
Sule said the party would remain focused on its goals and continue its efforts to serve the people of Maharashtra. “We remain steadfast. Our fight continues—with humility, with courage, and with the hope of building a Maharashtra that fulfils the dreams of its people,” she added.
Sharad Pawar suffered the worst-ever defeat in his political career in Maharashtra polls with the NCP faction led by him winning only 10 seats in the 288-member House. His MVA partners Congress and Sena (UBT) got 16 and 20 seats, respectively.
The ruling Mahayuti scored a massive victory with the BJP winning 132 seats, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde emerging victorious in 57, and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar grabbing 41 seats.
