Students boycott classes, stage protest

We will fight against molesters till they are punished, declares one of the victims

Condemning the attack on youth by a group during a birthday party, the students exhibited their solidarity by boycotting classes across Mangalore city on Monday.

Most of the colleges in the city including Canara, Rosario, St Aloysius, SDM, St Agnes, Besant, Sridevi, Roshni Nilaya declared holiday in the backdrop of all college bundh call given by Sarva College Vidhyarthi Sangha, Students’ Federation of India and district Youth Congress. 

The members of the CPM and the SFI tried to stage a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. However, the police arrested them as Section 144 has been clamped by the administration in the city. 

On the other hand, the students of St Agnes College staged a mass protest inside the college campus, flaying the attack on the youth. 

Addressing the protesters, one of the victims of the attack Gurudutt Nayak alleged the accused did not show any trace of decency during the attack. The “moral police” have created such a situation in Mangalore that the youth can neither party in clubs or in the houses. “We will fight against the molesters till they are punished, because we did not do anything wrong,” he said.

When he sought students’ support for the protest, over 1000 students raised their hands. 

“Don't call the attackers as Hindu activists. Call them goons as they believe in lawlessness. The victims should receive support from their parents. They should come out in open and speak about the atrocity,” said Social activist Vidya Dinker who was present at the venue. In a press release, Sarva College Vidhyarthi Sangha has stated that nearly 60 colleges in Mangalore remained closed and supported the bandh on Monday. The Sangha members have demanded the administration to ensure that the students are not attacked in future. 

Memorandum to top cop

Later in the evening, the office-bearers of Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association submitted a memorandum to the Police Commissioner condemning the filing of FIR against TV reporters in connection with the case. Association President P B Harish Rai warned of carrying out a severe fight if the FIR was not withdrawn. In response to the request, Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said he would take a decision only after investigating the matter. “I have never held media responsible for the attack.

But, if the media had wished they had an opportunity to prevent the occurrence of this incident. Reporting the event might be your duty, but we all share a common duty of humanity,” said the Commissioner.

He promised that he would not arrest the TV crew till the investigation is completed. Meanwhile, he also proposed to constitute a committee of five journalists and five investigating officers for the transparent examination of the case. 

Cops threaten students

Students of St Agnes College alleged the police of threatening them for no reason. One of the students said that the students were protesting inside the college campus premises at 10 am. However, three police told the students to stop staging of protest. When the students argued that they are protesting inside the premises, the cops threatened of humiliating them by taking their video and uploading it on internet. "If the cops who came to give us security, speak to us in this language what are we supposed to do?" questions Noronha.

Section 144 extended

Prohibitory order that was clamped in Mangalore city in the backdrop of attack on youth, has been extended till August 1, 6 pm, informed Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh. Though the order was initially clamped for three days, it has now been extended to one more day.