The Mangalore pub assault on Monday threatened to snowball into a political controversy with Union Minister Renuka Chowdhry attacking Karnataka government for failing to stop attempts to "Talibanise" the country while the BJP quickly distanced itself from the incident claiming the culprits did not belong to the Sangh Parivar.An agitated Chaudhry demanded an explanation from the state BJP government and asked the National Commission for Women to probe the Saturday night's episode of moral policing by a Hindu outfit that has sparked an outrage.
Inspector General of Police, Karnataka, A M Prasad said 17 persons, including the district convenor and secretary of Sri Ram Sene, have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody till Tuesday while a "special squad" has been formed to nab the other accused.
A group of "Sri Ram Sene" activists barged into the pub in the heart of Mangalore city and thrashed weekend revellers, including girls, accusing them of behaving in an obscene manner. There were also allegations of molestation.
Asked if provisions of Goonda Act will be invoked against them, Prasad said: "We will examine it.... whosoever has been involved in the incident will be certainly be arrested."
Condemning the incident, BJP President Rajnath Singh said he will discuss the issue with chief minister.
"I am absolutely horrified at the insensitivity.... I will seek an explanation from the Karanataka Government as well as self-styled Sri Ram Sene," Chowdhury, the Women and Child Development Minister, said.
