THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police in Vizhinjam booked a dozen residents of Chowara for manhandling a soon-to-be-married couple on Monday in an alleged case of moral policing. They said the couple had visited Avaduthura near Chowara to catch a glimpse of the sea from the cliff early Sunday morning.
The youths who played vigilantes questioned them alleging they were there for immoral activities. Further, they were allegedly harassed and roughed up badly. The complainants who were cousins approached Vizhinjam circle inspector S. Nuooman with their relatives. On inquiry, the police found that they were about to marry very soon, and such an attack had indeed happened.
The residents were booked under various Sections of IPC for unlawful assembly, rioting, wrongful restrainment, voluntarily causing hurt using dangerous weapons, criminal intimidation and outraging the modesty of a woman. Locals who were yet to be arrested claimed that the couple was caught in an inappropriate position and started an argument when questioned on this. Police said residents were paranoid after a couple died here after falling from the cliff while taking selfies last year.
