Journalist and female friend face verbal abuse from men who mistook him as Muslim

Mangaluru: Another case of moral policing unfolded in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district on July 29 when two people mistakenly assumed a Hindu journalist as a Muslim for roaming with a Hindu woman, leading to their arrest.

Journalist Abhijith N Kolpe and his female friend were subjected to verbal abuse by two men on July 29. The suspects, Chetan Kumar and Naveen, allegedly mistook Kolpe to be a Muslim and berated the duo for their interfaith friendship outside a restaurant around 3 pm.

Despite Kolpe's attempts to identify himself as a journalist, the men continued their tirade against the woman and fled the scene. The police apprehended Chetan Kumar, a 38-year-old mason, and Naveen, a 39-year-old resident of Mangaluru, on Monday following the incident.

The two accused were charged under Sections 506 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code for criminal intimidation and intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace. However, they were later released on bail.

Just two days earlier, on July 27, another incident took place in the same district. Two men were arrested for assaulting a police constable, Hanumantappa Kumar, and verbally abusing his wife. The suspects, who were later remanded in judicial custody, questioned Kumar for walking with his wife at 10 pm, assuming him to be a Muslim.