The student community in Dakshina Kannada – which has been on the receiving end of vigilante attacks – has welcomed the statement of Superintendent of Police Sharanappa S.D. that assaults by groups claiming to protectors of morality should be termed “immoral rowdyism” rather than “moral policing.”
“These groups were questioning our morality for fraternising with people from other communities. It is their morality which is in doubt and not ours,” said Samantha D’Souza, second-year BA (Human Resources Development) student. She said that the police statement “connects with the sentiments of the youth.”
Mahesh N, a BBM student, said groups that attack couples on the ground of upholding morality were destroying the vibrant atmosphere in colleges. “Police have to be tough against such people,” he added.
Mr. Sharanappa told presspersons here on Monday that “policing” referred to acts done within the framework of law. “When incidents are reported involving vigilante groups, there is nothing legal or moral. Such incidents are acts that are against the law which is nothing but rowdyism, and that will not be tolerated. Thus they should be called “immoral rowdyism”, he added.
Welcoming the statement of Mr. Sharanappa, the former Joint Secretary of Student’s Federation of India, Jeevanraj Kuthar said that what is lacking is tough police action. “If police had been tough in the initial period, then it would not have reached this level of notoriety. Police should first book such attackers and invoke the Goonda Act rather than question the morality of the boy and the girl from different communities moving together,” he said.
When incidents are reported involving vigilante groups, there is nothing legal or moral. They are against the law which is nothing but rowdyism and that will not be tolerated. Thus they should be called immoral rowdyism.
Sharanappa S.D.
Superintendent of Police
‘When incidents are reported involving vigilante groups, there is nothing legal or moral. They are acts against the law, which is rowdyism and that will not be tolerated’
