Bhatkal: A fresh moral policing controversy has triggered tensions in Bhatkal, with cross-complaints, the arrest of a Muslim youth, protests by Hindu organisations and a viral video raising questions over the handling of the case by police.
The controversy began after Shahid Khan, a Muslim youth from Bhatkal, alleged that he was assaulted by a group of Hindu activists while accompanying a Hindu woman in his car on Wednesday. Based on his complaint, police registered a case against three persons.
Hours later, the woman lodged a counter-complaint alleging that Shahid had taken her in his vehicle against her wishes. Police subsequently registered a separate case and launched an investigation into the incident.
The registration of a case against Hindu activists sparked outrage among BJP leaders and members of various Hindu organisations, who staged a late-night protest outside Bhatkal Town Police Station. Protesters accused police of acting selectively and demanded the withdrawal of the case registered against the activists.
The demonstrators also questioned the delay in acting on the woman's complaint and demanded immediate action against Shahid Khan. They warned of a larger agitation if their demands were not addressed.
Police later arrested Shahid Khan and remanded him to judicial custody. He was subsequently lodged in Karwar jail.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Deepan M.N. visited Bhatkal on Thursday and held discussions with representatives of both Hindu and Muslim communities amid concerns over law and order.
Meanwhile, a video from the protest showing a Hindutva leader allegedly using abusive language against a police inspector in the presence of senior officers has gone viral on social media. The footage has triggered criticism from several quarters, with questions being raised over the police response and the apparent absence of immediate action.
The incident has once again brought the spotlight on moral policing and communal sensitivities in Bhatkal, a town that has witnessed similar controversies in the past.