Mangaluru (Karnataka), March 19 (NationPress) — The police in Karnataka are actively pursuing leads in a moral policing incident where a 17-year-old boy from a minority community was reportedly assaulted and abducted by a group during a temple fair held in Ujire, according to police statements released on Thursday.

K. Arun, the Superintendent of Police in Mangaluru, affirmed that stringent measures will be implemented against those who take the law into their own hands. A specialized investigative team has been assembled to locate the perpetrators, while CCTV footage from the vicinity is currently under scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident unfolded on the evening of March 18 during the vibrant festivities of the Sri Janardhana Swamy temple fair in Beltangady taluk. The victim was allegedly approached by a group of young men while attending the fair with friends.

As per the allegations, the group confronted the boy, questioning, “Are you taking girls to a lodge?” and proceeded to insult him with derogatory terms before launching a physical attack. The assailants are also accused of forcibly taking the boy away and coercing him into recording a video on a mobile device. Further details about the situation are still emerging.

In response to the victim's complaint, the police in Beltangady have opened a case and initiated an investigation, invoking charges of wrongful restraint, assault, kidnapping, intentional insult, and criminal intimidation.

Initial findings suggest that the suspects are associated with the right-wing organization, Bajrang Dal. This incident has sparked serious concerns regarding safety and law enforcement during public events in the area.

On February 19, Chikkamagaluru police detained three individuals for moral policing, who allegedly harassed a boy and a girl from different communities as they returned from school on a motorcycle. Following a report from the boy’s family, police arrested the suspects — Nayaz, Tabrez, and Haneef.

On July 9, 2025, the Vitla police in Mangaluru district apprehended a man identified as Padmaraj for his involvement in a related moral policing case. This incident occurred when the complainant's minor brother was conversing with a classmate at the Vitla private bus stand.

In another instance on January 22, 2026, a group of Muslim youths allegedly assaulted Hindu youths who were with a Muslim girl in Bangarpet during an Urs procession. Police arrested 10 individuals in connection with this incident, following a complaint from Chandini, who reported that her Hindu friends — Rahul, Purushottam, Lavanya, and Sanjay — were also attacked alongside her and her brother Rafi.