Muslim youth beaten up in Mangalore for talking to Hindu girl

Mangaluru: In a suspected case of moral policing, a 28-year-old Muslim man was assaulted by a group of people, suspected of belonging to a Hindutva group, for talking to a Hindu girl, police said.

The victim, Shakir, is a resident of Kulur and he worked in a supermarket at Attavar in the city, they said.

The group allegedly almost stripped him and tied him to an electric pole last evening before publicly flogging him for talking to the girl, who also worked with him in the same supermarket.

Shakir has been hospitalised, police added.

Cases of assault and attempt to murder have been registered against unidentified assailants, they said.

Investigations are ongoing, and four people belonging to a right-wing HIndu organisation have been detained for questioning, police said.

Sporadic incidents of moral policing, particularly cases involving different communities have been reported in Dakshina Kannada district, raising concerns over growing intolerance in the state.