A man was assaulted by a group of students after he expressed his opinions on “Hindu Rashtra” during an argument that broke out at a mall in Karnataka’s Mangaluru on Wednesday, September 25.

The incident took place in the morning when the students were debating over national issues at the Forum Fiza Mall and the victim, Manjunath, who was having tea at the adjacent table, walked up to them and said, “India is a Hindu Rashtra where Muslims should not come.”

This comment initiated a heated argument and the enraged group started beating him up, the police said.

Police said the group then chased Manjunath and allegedly assaulted him. According to the police, the students who assaulted Manjunath belonged to a city-based college since some of them were dressed in their uniforms.

After the video of the incident went viral on social media, the police arrested Moideen Safwan, Abdul Rahim Saad, and one minor. A case was registered after the victim, Manjunath filed a complaint at the Pandeshwar police station. 

Meanwhile, Manjunath was taken to a local hospital and is undergoing treatment for the injuries.

“There’s no need to sensationalise the issue. We have registered a case against the attackers,” Mangaluru Commissioner of Police PS Harsha said. 

After the incident, the city police said they have increased the patrolling and police deployment in the city to avoid any communal incidents. 

In a similar incident, a man was arrested in the city on September 1 for allegedly circulating hate messages on social media. Police arrested Zakir Ullal after taping his phone that led to the recovery of incriminating evidence. “We practise zero-tolerance when it comes to people spreading communal hatred on social media,” PS Harsha had said then.

In 2015, at least 30 people were injured and property worth lakhs of rupees was destroyed in communal clashes in Mangaluru. A mosque was attacked and several shops were also set on fire during the violence. 

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