Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Feb 14: Scores of students and citizens on Wednesday February 14 staged a strong protest at Light House Hill road here condemning the recent incident at Adyapady where a man and a woman were allegedly assaulted, molested and robbed by a group. They also protested against frequent cases of immoral rowdysim (moral policing) and molestation and said that Mangaluru was turning out to be unsafe for girls.

Addressing the protest, social activist Vidya Dinker said, "Today the city is witnessing frequent incidents of immoral policing. Are we safe in Mangaluru given the rising cases of immoral policing and molestion that are taking place? The state has failed us, the system has failed us, the police have failed us terribly and we are here yet again protesting."

Referring to the Adyapady incident, she said, "Recently a young girl was molested and abused by a bunch of goons who told them how they should behave and where they should go. They just clicked photos and videos and blackmailed with the threat to post them on social media. The man and the woman were doing nothing, they were just sitting in the car. There was nothing wrong, still these bunch of goons questioned, molested, and abused them.

"This was not the first time, on January 2 a moral policing incident took place at Pilikula when young girls were openly abused in the presence of police who did not even act. Goons even entered the house of a Dalit girl and dared to question the family because she had talked to a Muslim guy. All this indicates that women are unsafe not only in malls, parks, beaches, but also in their own houses where these goons dare to enter and threaten," she said.

"There is a fearful atmosphere even in colleges as students are afraid to talk to each other, thinking that they will be beaten up later on. Even when you go to malls there is someone or the other who will ask why you later why you were with him or her. Who are these people? What is their problem? Enough is enough, we need to shout back and not keep silent anymore. We need to speak up and strongly raise our voice. We will be smart, the smartest and safe. Youths of Mangaluru should raise their voice and dare to come forward and push these goons away," she said.

SDM student Samantha said, "I applaude and salute the courage of the woman who was molested at Bajpe for raising her voice and leading by example. We are here to protest against moral policing and molestion, thanks to the men who arranged this protest. Let this be the a good start for a new era.

"I thank the state government and the police for taking action in the Adyapady case. This will be a benchmark for our society. A few are ashamed to say that they go out late in the night and hide issues if something goes wrong because the society will not accept it. The courage of the woman who was molested and raised her voice shows that there is nothing to be ashamed of. We should raise our voice strongly against it, so that we can walk with our heads held high in the society. Let us be united and let our voice become an echo. We do not want our classmates, sisters, and neighbours to become victims of moral policing," she said.

Shraddha compered the protest. Suhan Alva and others were present.