In yet another case of “moral policing” in the city, two persons allegedly assaulted two youths from another community on Monday. Their objection was that the youths were working along with two women from another community at a store at Baikampady, near here.
The assault led to the two youths, along with others from their community, beating up the two activists in retaliation later in the evening.
Altaf (23) and Shamsuddin (21), who are working with a mobile recharge store at Baikampady, have been admitted to hospital in Falnir. Meanwhile, Pushparaj (22) and Bharat (21) — who have been accused of the assault — have been admitted in another hospital in Surathkal.
According to Altaf, he and Shamsuddin have been working in the store for nearly two months. Two women from the other community also worked in the store. A fortnight ago, a group of people with right wing affiliations threatened the shopowner if he continued to employ the youths.
Altaf said Pushparaj and Bharat came to the store on Monday at about 2 p.m. when they were leaving for lunch. “They abused us and rained blows on us without any reason,” he alleged. Pushparaj told The Hindu that they had cautioned the shopowner about the possible attack on the youths for being colleagues of the women and they should not give scope for it.
Pushparaj claimed that he and Bharat were initially assaulted by Altaf and Shamsuddin near the store. A few hours later, few more men waylaid them and rained blows on them, he claimed.
Both the groups filed complaints of assault against each other. But in the complaints they have not mentioned anything about women working in the store.
Police Commissioner S. Murugan said when one section got admitted to a private hospital, the other group members did the same. The two have exchanged blows and no weapons were used, he said.
The assault led to the two youths, along with others from their community, beating up the two activists in retaliation
