A group of people pelted stones at a restaurant at Malpe in Udupi district, which is owned by the father of one of the six girls from Udupi who have approached the High Court of Karnataka seeking permission to wear hijab in classrooms. The girl claims that her brother was assaulted during the alleged incident.
The Udupi police arrested three persons on February 22. They were later released on station bail.
The group pelted stones at Bismillah hotel of Hyder Ali, who is the father of Hazra Shifa, a student of Government Pre University College for Girls in Udupi, on the night of February 21.
Udupi Superintendent of Police N. Vishnuvardhan told The Hindu that a window pane was damaged. One member of the group slapped Saif, son of Mr. Ali, after getting into an argument with him over the hijab controversy around 9.30 p.m. when Mr. Saif was closing the restaurant.
Malpe police rushed to the spot and dispersed the group. A case under unlawful assembly has been registered at Malpe police station.
Police gave the names of the accused as Deepak, 25, who slapped Mr. Saif, Manoj, 25, and Sanil Raj, 26, all from Malpe. They work in the fisheries business, and are not affiliated to any organisation. All three have been booked under Sections 143, 147, 323, 504 and 506 read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code.
Mr. Saif was hospitalised following the alleged attack.
Malpe Police Sub-Inspector Shakthivelu, quoting the medico legal case report given by the doctor, said there were no injuries to Mr. Saif who was discharged on February 22.
In a tweet Ms. Shifa said: “My brother was brutally attacked by a mob. Just because I continue to stand for My #Hijab which is MY RIGHT. Our property was ruined as well. Why ?? Can’t I demand my right? Who will be their next victim? I demand action to be taken against the Sangh Parivar goons.” She tagged @UdupiPolice in her tweet.
Aseel Akram, president, Udupi district unit of Campus Front of India (CFI), told reporters at the hospital that four to six persons allegedly assaulted Mr. Saif. Mr. Akram said that the CFI suspects the role of Udupi MLA K. Raghupathi Bhat in the attack.
It is said that Mr. Ali had recently expressed his views on the hijab controversy during a chat with a television journalist. The edited version of his statement, with some of his points appearing to have been taken out of context, was uploaded on social media. The three accused saw the video clip and went to the restaurant on February 21 night to question Mr. Ali about his statement. As Mr. Ali was not there, the trio allegedly targeted his son (Mr. Saif).
