In another incident of moral policing in Karnataka, a group of nine individuals reportedly harassed an interfaith couple in Haveri district, prompting the Karnataka Police to take action. Following a formal complaint, seven people involved in the incident have been arrested, while efforts are underway to locate the remaining two accused, who are currently evading authorities.
The alleged incident occurred at the Badagi bus stand, where the interfaith couple, comprising a Muslim woman and a Hindu man, were reportedly attacked by the group. Quick intervention by onlookers, who witnessed the harassment, led to the timely alerting of the police.
The woman filed a complaint against the nine individuals on Friday evening. The arrested suspects have been identified as Abdulkhader Mudgal, Mansoor Taandoor, Mehboobakhan Badigera, Riyaz Halageri, Alwaz Baligara, Abdul Desura, Khader Kanake, Salimsabh Qazi, and Mehbooba Ali Halageri.
Haveri SP, Anshu Kumar, assured that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining two suspects.
The case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 147 (Rioting), 341 (Wrongful restraint), 323 (Voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (Criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 506 (Criminal intimidation), and 149 (Unlawful assembly).
This incident follows a similar case in Haveri district earlier this month when seven individuals allegedly assaulted an interfaith couple in their hotel room. The victims reported verbal abuse, physical assault, and filming of the woman while she tried to shield herself with a burqa. The woman later accused the group of gang rape. Two individuals from the previous incident have been arrested.
