Police arrest 14 individuals, including Prasad Attavar, as investigation into the salon attack continues. (Image: Facebook)
MANGALURU: Alleging immoral activities, a group of 11 individuals linked to the right-wing outfit Rama Sene, vandalized a unisex salon near the KSRTC bus stand in Mangaluru on Thursday morning.
The incident occurred at around 11.50 am on Thursday when a group of 11 individuals barged into "Colors,” a unisex salon situated near Aditya Complex in Bijai.
The act was also video recorded allegedly by a person who had come with the group. The footage later revealed the incident. It also showed women in the unisex salon attempting to shield their faces while pleading with the attackers.
In a press statement, the police said that the individuals who barged into the salon accused the salon of engaging in immoral activities, verbally abused and threatened the female staff with life, vandalized salon equipment, and assaulted the employees.
Based on a complaint filed by the salon owner Sudheer Shetty an FIR was registered at the Barke Police Station under Sections 329(2), 324(5), 74, 351(3), 115(2), 109, 352, and 190 of BNS.
During the investigation, it was found that members of a certain organization were involved in the incident. A total of 14 accused have been arrested in relation to this case.
The arrested include Prasad Attavar, Harsharaj, Mohan Das, Purandara, Sachin, Ravish, Suketh, Ankit, Kali Muttu, Abhilash, Deepak, Vignesh, Sharan Raj and Pradeep Poojary.
Police said that the specific roles of each individual along with the involvement of any others are being verified.
Rama Sene, a local outfit led by Prasad Attavar, emerged as a breakaway faction of Sri Rama Sene following differences between Prasad Attavar and Sri Rama Sene founder Pramod Muthalik.
Prasad Attavar, during his time with Sri Rama Sene, was one of the main accused in the infamous 2009 Mangaluru pub attack.
Coincidentally, Thursday’s attack occurred almost exactly 16 years after the pub incident. While the pub attack took place on January 24, 2009, the saloon attack was carried out on January 23, 2025.
While some feel this an act by the outfit to show its might, some also allege it to be an act of collection.
While some see this as the outfit trying to demonstrate its power, others suggest it may be aimed at instilling fear for the purpose of extortion.
District in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao strongly condemned the incident.
He issued a stern warning against individuals or groups taking the law into their own hands and called for strict adherence to the rule of law.
He emphasized that no individual or organization has the authority to take the law into their own hands and that any suspicions of illegal activities must be reported to the police through proper channels, rather than resorting to vigilantism or violence.
Calling the attack by Ram Sene unacceptable, he said, “Using God's name for such deeds is disrespectful to Lord Ram, and Hindu organizations must also condemn these actions." He added that the police have been given strict instructions to take decisive action against offenders to maintain peace and harmony.
Dinesh Gundu Rao also issued a warning against moral policing, stating that anyone engaging in such acts would face severe consequences. He expressed concerns that such incidents could tarnish Mangaluru’s reputation and hinder the region’s progress, stressing that everyone must adhere to the rule of law for the city to prosper.
The minister highlighted that since the Congress government came to power, there has been a concerted effort to maintain law and order in the region. However, he noted that some groups are still attempting to create disturbances and disrupt peace. He reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing these challenges and ensuring the safety and security of citizens.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) pointed fingers at City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal.
In a press statement CPI(M) district secretary Muneer Katipalla stated that Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal was directly responsible for the immoral hooliganism that took place at the saloon.
“Mangaluru has never seen an official like him who shamelessly supports such illegal activities. The Commissioner has allegedly provided a free hand to operations like massage parlors, sand mafia, prostitution, and gambling. For months, we (the people’s organizations of Mangaluru) have been fighting for his transfer,” he stated.
He recollected meeting the Home Minister and the District In-charge Minister and detailing everything to them.
“Yet, they continued to shield Commissioner Agarwal and the illegal activities under his watch. This neglect has now given groups like Ram Sene an excuse to engage in hooliganism. Today’s incident has once again brought shame to Mangaluru. The District In-charge Minister and the Home Minister, who failed to act against the tainted Commissioner, are equally responsible for this incident,” he stated.
He also blamed Mangalore MLA UT Khader and his associates for standing by the Commissioner.
The owner of the saloon has however denied any illegal acts in his unit.
Meanwhile, an electronic media outlet quoted Prasad Attavar, prior to his arrest, claiming that illegal activities were being carried out at the location.
He stated that there was evidence of such activities, which prompted activists to conduct the raid. Attavar also clarified that he was not present at the scene during the incident.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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