The recent incident of right wing hooligans acting as the moral police and attacking youngsters at a home stay in Mangalore is another instance of an obnoxious trend that needs to be put down with all force of the law.
The port city of Mangalore is a multi-cultural city, and perhaps for that reason has been targeted by the spurious guardians of Hindu culture. Attacks on pubs and churches in recent years have lent a communal edge to such incidents. Since 2009 there have been three such major incidents in the district and several smaller ones.
So why is Mangalore being targeted? Right wing Hindu outfits like the RSS and the BJP are active in many other places where they have not unleashed such attacks. One of the reasons the situation in Mangalore is so volatile is the interference of right wing outfits in the law enforcement agencies, particularly when it comes to ordering transfers. This has left the police force crippled with the force taking no action against right wing activists involved in crime," say sources.
Pattabhirama Somayaji, assistant professor at Mangalore University College, says the Sangh parivar has a unique way of creating terror. “The Sangh wants to convert Mangalore into the communal capital of the State. Their agenda is the same everywhere, but actions vary for each region. In Chikmagalur RSS divides society in the name of Datta Peetha and in Shimoga it’s the Ganesha festival. Likewise, in Mangalore, society is divided in the name of burqa or acts of moral policing,” he said.
Prof Jogan Shankar, head of Mangalore University’s sociology department says Mangalore is experiencing a "cultural lag" that is being exploited by some organisations. "The society of DK is physically in the 21st century, with good education and modern lifestyle. But inwardly, they are several centuries behind. This cultural lag is exploited by vested interests,” he said.
Dr P.L. Dharma of Mangalore University, says that those involved are unemployed youth who don’t want to work in their villages.