Karnataka police are searching for activists involved in a moral policing incident where a 17-year-old boy from a minority community was reportedly assaulted and abducted during a temple fair in Ujire, Mangaluru district. Superintendent of Police K. Arun emphasized that strict action will be taken against those resorting to vigilantism. A special team has been set up to locate the suspects, with authorities reviewing CCTV footage for clues.
The incident occurred on the evening of March 18 at the Sri Janardhana Swamy temple fair in Beltangady taluk, as per police reports. The boy, who had attended the fair with friends, was confronted by a group of youths. The group allegedly verbally abused and physically attacked him, accusing him of inappropriate behavior. The perpetrators then took the boy away, forcing him to record a video on a mobile phone.
Following the victim’s complaint, Beltangady police have registered a case and initiated an investigation, citing charges including wrongful restraint, assault, kidnapping, intentional insult, and criminal intimidation. Initial findings suggest the involvement of individuals associated with the Bajrang Dal, a right-wing organization. The incident has sparked concerns regarding public safety and law enforcement at local events.
In a separate incident on February 19, Chikkamagaluru police detained three individuals on moral policing charges after they stopped a boy and a girl from different communities on a bike and interrogated them. Similarly, on July 9, 2025, Vitla police arrested a man named Padmaraj for moral policing when a minor was conversing with a schoolmate at Vitla private bus stand. Another incident on January 22, 2026, involved Muslim youths allegedly attacking Hindu youths accompanying a Muslim girl during an Urs procession in Bangarpet. Authorities apprehended 10 individuals in connection with this incident.
