Moral Policing Horror in Haveri: Three Arrested, More Suspects on the Run
Haveri: Police have apprehended three individuals and are pursuing others in connection with the moral policing incident that transpired on Jan 8.
The police have booked case under various sections of the IPC including attempt to murder and gang rape.
As per sources, a male and a female from different communities were inside a lodge room on Jan 8. At around 1 pm, a group comprising 5-6 individuals forcibly entered the premises and thrashed the two.
The attackers left the male victim behind after thrashing him, while they forcibly took the woman to another location, where they continued thrashing her using wooden objects, hands, and kicks.
Prompted by a complaint filed on Wednesday, the Hanagal police have registered a case under IPC Section 354 (Assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 448 (house-trespass), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation. If threat be to cause death or grievous hurt, etc,) along with 149.
The initial arrests include Aftab (the first accused) and Madarasab (the second accused) and Abdulla Khader (fourth accused) all hailing from Hanagal. However, several other suspects remain at large.
Abdulla Khader who met with an accident on Jan 9 is presently under treatment.
Special teams have been formed to apprehend the suspects, Superintendent of Police Anshu Kumar said.
Officials are also delving into the possibility of the accused being involved in previous instances of moral policing.
The victim has provided a statement to the police, leading to the inclusion of additional IPC Sections 363 (Kidnapping), 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons), and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) in the complaint.
Meanwhile, based on the statement of the male victim on Jan 11, the police have included IPC section 307 (attempt to murder) in the case.
SP Anshu Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that following the statement of the victim before the Magistrate on Jan 11, the police have included Section 376D (Gang rape) in the case.
The victim has been sent for a medical test.
Issuing a stern warning, SP Anshu Kumar emphasized, "If anyone takes the law into their hands under the pretext of moral policing, engaging in an assault against individuals, stringent legal actions will be taken against them."
Meanwhile former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai questioned the silence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the Haveri Moral policing incident and demanded that he must announce his stand on the issue.
"There had been allegation of the sexual assault on the victim who belongs to the Minority community, and the police must subject her to the medical test and probe the incident from all the angles to punish the guilty. The CM who always speaks against moral policing has been silent in this regard," Bommai said.
He said the incident took place when a couple belonging to different religions were inside a room.
"There are charges of the gang rape also. The victim must be subjected to the medical test. The Congress government had failed to give protection to the Minority community woman. The guilty must be punished," he demanded.
