31 May 2024: The Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against unidentified individuals who conducted Friday prayers on a public road in front of a mosque at Kankanady in Mangaluru city. This action followed the circulation of a video showing the incident, which sparked outrage among right-wing groups.
The case is filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to wrongful restraint, obstructing a public way, and unlawful assembly. The Friday prayers reportedly disrupted traffic, forcing many vehicles to take alternative routes.
Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal confirmed that an investigation into the incident, which occurred on May 24, is ongoing.
The video going viral has prompted right-wing organizations to threaten public recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) condemned the act of offering namaz in a public space, with its leader Sharan Pumpwell warning that the group would conduct mass Hanuman Chalisa recitations at the same location. A memorandum seeking police action has also been submitted.
Former BJP minister K S Eshwarappa remarked that Hindu society would not tolerate such activities and warned that police inaction could lead to riots.
