Two persons, a father and his son, have been booked for alleged moral policing, assault, and caste-based abuse of a minor schoolboy near a railway track under the jurisdiction of Mangaluru South Police Station.
According to the complaint filed by the boy’s father, his 14-year-old son, a Class 9 student, was speaking with a Class 10 girl near a railway track after school hours around 4 pm on February 23.
Video recorded and circulated
The accused, identified as Steevan Monteiro and his son Avil, allegedly approached the two minors and recorded a video of them on a mobile phone, accusing them of engaging in a public display of affection.
They reportedly threatened the minors and used foul language. The complaint states that the video was later circulated on social media.
Following the confrontation, the girl left the spot. When the boy attempted to leave, Avil allegedly stopped him and took him from the railway track to an adjacent road, demanding the girl’s address.
Allegations of assault and caste slurs
The complainant alleged that both accused abused the boy with caste-based slurs and assaulted him. He further stated that he was acquainted with the accused, who runs a laundry business in the Shivanagar area.
Despite knowing the family, the accused allegedly continued to abuse both the complainant and his son based on their caste and accused them of sharing the video online.
Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 352, 351(1), and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Police said further investigation is under way.