Mangalore pub attack: Right-wing assailants acquitted, twitter expresses shock
Mangaluru: The incident had garnered national outrage after a video clip of the attack went viral and yet, a local court on Monday acquitted Right-wing fringe outfit Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik and several others in the 2009 Mangaluru pub attack case for lack of evidence.
Third Judicial Magistrate of First Class Court R. Manjunath stated in his order, “The accused are acquitted.”
Over 30 Sri Ram Sene activists had allegedly barged into the pub on January 24, 2009, and assaulted some women and men, claiming they were violating traditional Indian values.
And while the video depicted several men allegedly dragging women at the pub by their hair, slapping and roughing them up and accusing them of “loose morals”, the verdict has left people shocked, while Muthalik celebrates.
Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, several people have expressed their shocked outrage at the verdict which has brought to question women’s safety in India.
Taking to Twitter, Dhrubo Jyoti wrote,
A group of men barged into a pub, beat up women, dragged out and paraded in front of television. A decade and many many protests later, all acquitted reportedly for "lack of evidence". Shameful#MangalorePubAttack
— Dhrubo Jyoti (@dhrubo127) March 12, 2018
Another Twitter user expressed his shock as well,
The Judiciary let India down. Now I know why the symbol of law is the blindfolded lady. How can they let these goons free? It will only encourage further acts of fundamentalist violence. #MangalorePubAttack
— Adarsh J (@AdarshJforchang) March 13, 2018
Yashas cannot help but be sarcastic as he writes,
The court acquits Pramod muthalik and Ram sene goons for lack of evidence. Guess it was 'Invisible hands' that hit women at Mangaluru Pub. #MangalorePubAttack
— yashas (@YashasRonie) March 13, 2018
While Chef Kavita Chesetty feels that it is a 'strange land' we live in,
#MangalorePubAttack culprits get relief!! Strange is this land we live in. Where reality and allegations are mixed up!!
— Kavita Chesetty (@kavita_malli) March 13, 2018
Other users too expressed their shock at the verdict, with one user writing, "Lack of evidence for something an entire nation watched?? #MangalorePubAttack."
Another twitterati Harish asks everyone to realise what just happened. He tweets, "State of judiciary- After 9 years, #MangalorePubAttack perpetuators who were caught on cam hitting girls are let off. Let that sink in."
Blogger Ritu Putatunda asks women to take matters in their own hands since the judiciary managed to fail them so badly. She tweets,
4)Henceforth women shd arm themselves,take self defense training,& fight back when such goons assault them!Remember,so-called justice system of India fails again&again to support #womensrights,hence women hv to fight for their rights! #MangalorePubAttack
— Rita Putatunda (@SistahFeminista) March 13, 2018
And one twitter user chilling puts forward reality,
And this gives them confidence and courage to again do the wrong.. #MangalorePubAttack #Justice https://t.co/jgAfaKCUFH
— Weakest LINK (@rachitsharma0) March 12, 2018
