Moral Police attack: HC slaps notices on state govt in a PIL

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, August 1, 2012: The State High Court which has conducted a hearing into the Public Interest Litigation filed in connection with the Morning Mist Home Stay attack at Padil in Mangalore, has slapped notices on the State Government, Home Ministry and the CBI. The Court which heard the PIL on August 1, Wednesday, has also directed the Home Ministry to conduct an investigation into the case and file a report within seven days.

 

The 2009 Amnesia Case is still fresh in the minds of people and the recent Home stay has rekindled the fire. Ever since the Amnesia Attack, cold response on part of the police has naturally given rise and encouraged the HJV (Hindu Janajagarana Vedike) or local goons as they describe themselves to be, has only grown worse and more heinous over the years

 

The court further observed that it did not find any difference between the Guwahati molestation case of a young girl and the Mangalore moral policing incident and has directed the home ministry to initiate stern action against the perpetrators of the attack. The Chief Justice also said that the incident has made everyone hang their heads in shame.

The PIL was filed by a Bangalore based advocate S Vasudeva blaming the state police for their “failure” to prevent the attack on the Mangalore Mist Home Stay and demanding a CBI inquiry into the incident.

The PIL had said that young men and women had assembled at the home stay to celebrate birthdays of two of them, when a group of hooligans went there and attacked them.

It said that the police department failed to prevent the crime and enforce the rule of law. Similar incidents had taken place in Mangalore earlier, and the police should have been more alert to avoid such attacks, Vasudeva contended.

The PIL had pleaded the court to direct the government to book all those who indulged in such acts of violence against women under the Goonda Act. The chief secretary, home secretary, Mangalore Commissioner of Police and the CBI director were made party in the petition.