KOLLAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed DGP Loknath Behra to take stringent action against the culprits behind moral policing. His order comes in the wake of an incident of moral policing against a couple at the Azheekkal beach here on Valentine’s Day. He also directed the police to register a case against the perpetrators who insulted the couple at the beach and publicised their images through social media.
The Oachira police arrested three persons, K. Biju of Meenathu Puthuval veedu, Azheekal, B. Abhilash Puthumannel veedu, Azheekal and R. Dhaneesh Mana-looltharayil, Eruva, Alappuzha, in connection with the incident. Sections of IPC 354, 354c, 324, 294B, under Rioting Act and IT Act were charged against them. The couple, who are employees of a private firm at Vallikavu, were insulted and manhandled by the assailants. The DYFI on Thursday staged a protest march at Azheekal beach against the incident.
“The visuals show the offenders attacking the couple and they were pleading for release. The language used by the offenders is an attack on our cultural consciousness. Nobody has been given the right to assault the public under any circumstance. It is a grave offence that the video was circulated on social media. It is a worse offence to spread images of girls and boys talking on campuses, parks, or in other public places in the name of moral policing,” the chief minister said.
