By Violet Pereira, Team Mangalorean

Mangalore: The issue of attack on boys and girls who were celebrating the birthday of one of their friends in a resort at Padil on Saturday evening has taken another dimension.

The members of Hindu Jagarana Vedike attacked the girls and boys who were partying in the Morning Mist Homestay with the permission of their parents.  The activists who forcibly entered the resort assaulted the boys and girls very badly. 

Later a large crowd gathered in the area, and the police had to resort to lathi charge to control the crowd. Subhash Padil and Ganesh were injured and they have been admitted to the KMC hospital.  Thereafter the activists gathered in large numbers in front of the Kankanady rural police station. 

According to sources, corporator Mohan from Padil ward was also present when the attack took place. The police have arrested 6 persons along with the corporator. Late in the night, under pressure from the HJV activists, the police are said to have released him.

Some of the persons injured during the lathi charge were admitted in KMC hospital near Ambedkar circle. A large number of activists who had assembled near KMC hospital were seen to be engaged in heated arguments with the police. To avert any ugly situation, additional forces were deployed near the hospital.

On the other hand, Congress party workers staged a protest in front of the Pandeshwar police station demanding action against the people who had taken law in their own hands and who were involved in such a heinous crime.

Speaking to Mangalorean.com, advocate Ivan D'Souza said, "The act committed by the activists of the Hindu Jagarana Vedike is condemnable and anti-democratic. The young boys and girls found in the resort were Engineering students who were celebrating the birthday of one of their friends. It is learnt that all of them had taken prior permission from their parents to celebrate."

"When the birthday celebration was going on, HJV activists forcibly entered the resort and started abusing and assaulting the girls and boys. The assault was recorded and flashed in some TV channels immediately. This is a heinous crime. The persons involved in this crime should be severely punished under the Goonda Act. If the parents allow their sons and daughters to celebrate the birthday party, what problem do HJV activists face?" asked Ivan.

The Congress party under the leadership of Mithun Rai will hold an all-College bandh on Monday and stage a protest in front of DC office. "We will see that this kind of heinous crimes will be dealt with in such a way that they are not repeated in Mangalore. Every now and then such crimes are happening in the city. This should be stopped," he said.

Ivan further said, "The persons who were involved in this crime have shown their Taliban culture. Our state government is encouraging these kind of activities and there is no action taken against these goons who freely roam the streets of Mangalore. The police have lost control of the law and order situation, innocent people are being attacked and crimes on women has increased. Today they have done it to someone's daughter. Tomorrow it may be your daughter or sister being attacked. We need to awaken our law enforcement-officers from their deep slumber. If not, we may see such incidents more often."

Mithun Rai, Praveen Alva, P V Mohan, Denis D'Silva and many other Congress party workers protested all through the night in front of the Pandeshwar police station.

Mangalore: Immoral Policing - HJV Activists Raid Resort, Assault Party-goers