Homestay attack victims should remain strong till the end'

The programme was jointly organised by PUCL, Alternative Law Forum, Bangalore, and FAAW, Mangalore. The report contained accounts and details of the individuals affected by the attack and right-wing groups that claimed responsibility for it.

Speaking on the occasion, advocate Hemalatha Mahishi said that the communally-driven incidents in the region reflected the condition of the entire state. She lamented the way Mangalore had transformed over the years from a calm cosmopolitan city into a place with increasing instances of communal policing. “The homestay attack has made us bow our heads in shame,” she said.

Lashing out against the perpetrators of the attack, she questioned their right to assault youngsters and demanded to know how they could take the law in their hands. If they did not have the required political backing behind them, they would have feared to launch such an attack. To be seen and recognised in political might have been their bigger motive behind this. If this is the case, what kind of leaders can we expect in the future,” she questioned.

She said that it was saddening to see that victims themselves were pressurised and targeted in such situations. They will continue to be victimised so that they do not give testimony as witnesses in the court. The case against homestay assailants can be a fool-proof one if the victims, especially the female ones, came forward to testify during judicial proceedings. Hence, they (witnesses) have to remain strong and stay with the case till the end, if the accused are to be punished, she stressed.

She also stressed that the person appointed as chairperson of Women's Rights Commission or Human Rights should not be affiliated to any political organisation.

Director of Manipal Institution of Communication Varadesh Hiregange said that the mind-set of people itself was the problem in communal politics. There have been as many as 112 instances of moral policing in the past three years, but none have come to the forefront. Another worrisome fact about it is the insensitivity of the police regarding such incidents, he said.

Terming the arrest of television journalist Naveen Soorinje as absurd, he said that it was blatantly unjust that the perpetrators of the attack and a media-person were booked under the same sections (IPC). “I wish the case against him is withdrawn,” he hoped.

Member of the fact-finding committee Dr Sabiha Bhoomigowda in her introductory remarks said that it was a regretful fact that in the present situation, the culprits and the innocent were being shown in the same light. The intention of forming a fact-finding committee was to find out the truth from the witnesses themselves, collect facts and make a report, she said, hoping that the incident would be the last of its kind in the city.

Member of Alternative Law Forum Arvind Narrain said that a person had the fundamental right make personal choices in his social life, and those could not be questioned by others in a democracy.

Member of the committee Suresh Bhat welcomed the gathering and Vijayalakshmi Shetty compered the programme. Activist Vidya Dinker and Gulabi Bilimale were present.