View source for 2012 Mangalore homestay attack

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{POV|date=August 2013}}
On 28 July 2012, activists belonging to the Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV),{{POV statement|date=August 2012}} affiliated with the [[Sangh Parivar|Sangh Pariwar]],<ref name=NIE-rise>{{cite news |title=The rise of a moral vigilante in Karnataka |url=http://newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/article583086.ece?pageNumber=1&parentId=5438&operation=complaint |accessdate=17 August 2012 |newspaper=Indian Express |date=5 August 2012}}</ref> allegedly attacked a birthday party at an unlicensed<ref name="mm2" /> [[homestay]] in [[Mangalore]], [[Karnataka]].<ref name="toi">{{cite news |title=Hindu Jagaran (HJV) south regional chief not keen on electoral role |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-04/mangalore/33034531_1_satyajit-hindu-jagaran-hjv |work=[[The Times of India]] |accessdate=14 August 2012 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name=toi-ncw>{{cite news|title=NCW to probe attack on birthday party|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-15/mangalore/33216372_1_ncw-chairperson-probe-attack-investigation-report|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103083633/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-15/mangalore/33216372_1_ncw-chairperson-probe-attack-investigation-report|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|accessdate=18 August 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=15 August 2012}}</ref>

The 12 people at the party, including 5 girls, were allegedly beaten, stripped and molested.<ref name="dh-moral">{{cite news|author =Mangalore |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/267764/moralists-molest-women.html |title='Moralists' molest women |publisher=Deccanherald.com |date=28 July 2012 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref> The faces of some girls were blackened.<ref name="mm2">{{cite news|title=Mangalore: Girls thrashed for partying, 4 arrested |url=https://www.news18.com/videos/india/mangalore-gfx-deepa-492064.html | date=28 July 2012 | publisher=News18 | accessdate=9 February 2019}}</ref> The activists claimed the youngsters were consuming alcohol and were involved in "some indecent activities".<ref name="mm1">{{cite web|title=Karnataka Deputy CM confirms arrest of eight alleged rave party attackers in Mangalore|url=http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/2012/07/29/123-Karnataka-Deputy-CM-confirms-arrest-of-eight-alleged-rave-party-attackers-in-Mangalore-.html|accessdate=14 August 2012}}</ref>

Hundreds of locals, including women, staged protests complaining police had not taken steps to check "illegal activities" in the home-stay despite complaining on several occasions.<ref name="mm2" /> President Jagadish Karanth demanded an check on such "obscene activities".<ref name="mm2" />

Parts of the attack were captured on camera by a reporter at the scene, and were shown on various news channels.<ref name="hindu-interview">[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mangalore/article3700530.ece ''Mangalore Homestay Attack''.] The Hindu. Retrieved 4 August 2012.</ref><ref name="sundayindian">[http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/a-reporters-tale-of-mangalore-incident/14/38393/ ''A Reporter's Tale of Mangalore Incident''.] The Sunday Indian. Retrieved 4 August 2012.</ref>

Twenty two activists were arrested in the following days.<ref name="toi-arrests">{{cite news|author =Jaideep Shenoy |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-02/mangalore/33000547_1_mangalore-south-sub-division-latest-arrests-chief-seemant-kumar-singh |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103085136/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-02/mangalore/33000547_1_mangalore-south-sub-division-latest-arrests-chief-seemant-kumar-singh |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |work =[[The Times of India]] |title=Morning Mist Home Stay attack arrests now goes up to 22|date=2 August 2012}}</ref>

==Government response==
Karnataka Home Minister R. Ashok condemned the attack and said police would take strict action and would not tolerate such incidents.<ref name="mm1"/>

===Police===
The government sent a senior police officer, Bipin Gopalakrishnan to visit the spot and investigate. Based on his extensive investigation, Gopalakrishnan made it clear that the boys and girls were colleagues. He also said that there was no use of drugs or any other illegal material at the party and the group of youngsters wanted to leave the home stay by 7:30 pm.<ref name="belle"/>{{Failed verification|date=August 2012}}{{better source|date=September 2012}}

===Karnataka State Women's Commission===
The Women's Commission, which is not an investigating agency{{Failed verification|date=August 2012}}, contradicted the police findings. Its chairman, C. Manjula, continued to insist that it was a [[rave party]], despite police confirming no drugs were involved. She asked the home ministry to investigate the victims, and claimed they were involved in human trafficking.<ref name="belle">{{cite web|url=http://www.bellevision.com/belle/index.php?action=topnews&type=4347 |title=Welcome |publisher=Bellevision.com |date=9 August 2012 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref>{{better source|date=September 2012}}

Manjula also blamed "pseudo-feminists" for allegedly not raising their voice over other instances of atrocities against women.<ref name="mm"/>

She claimed that people at the homestay were consuming drugs, and blamed the "irresponsible" district administration "for such behaviour of youths".<ref name="mm" /> The chairperson also demanded unlicensed homestays in Mangalore be shut down and asked home ministry to "initiate an inquiry into the antecedents of the two boys" who were victimized.<ref name="bhaskar">[http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/BAN-wc-chairperson-demands-inquiry-into-antecedents-of-boy-victims-3608085-NOR.html ''BAN wc Chairperson Demands Inquiry into Antecedents of Boy Victims.''] Retrieved 4 August 2012.</ref>

====Commission report====
The Commission submitted a report to the Home Ministry on 29 July.

The report recommends investigation into whether the 'boys who organised the birthday party had misled the girls'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.asianage.com/india/sham-report-womens-commission-mangalore-home-stay-attack-573 |title=A sham report by women's commission on the Mangalore home stay attack |publisher=The Asian Age |date=10 August 2012 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="belle" /> In direct contradiction to the police investigation, chairman Manjula claimed that people at the homestay were consuming drugs, and blamed the "irresponsible" district administration "for such behaviour of youths".<ref name="mm"/>

The Commission also recommended the use of a separate cell for missing trafficked women.<ref name="belle"/>

It also demands that the father of one of the girls at the party, who is a police official, should be transferred out of the district.<ref name="belle"/>

==Legality of Homestay==
Loretta Rebello is the proprietor of the homestay 'Morning Mist'. One of the victims claimed that they paid a sum of Rs 10,000 for five hours (2.30 pm to 7.30 pm) to party in the 'Morning Mist,’ a bungalow with many bedrooms.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|title=Neighbours came to know from TV|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/267929/neighbours-came-know-tv.html|accessdate=14 August 2012}}</ref>

Mangalore City Corporation Officer Manjunath Shetty said Loretta Rebello did not possess any commercial licence to run the homestay.<ref name="mm2" /> [[Deccan Herald]] reports Rebello started renting it out on hourly basis about two years ago.<ref name="mm2" />

==Public reaction==

Prohibitory order were immediately slapped on the city. Colleges in the city stayed closed for a day in protest.<ref name="dna-students">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_mangalore-students-protest-say-city-is-unsafe_1722024 |title=Mangalore students protest; say city is unsafe - Bangalore - DNA |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=31 July 2012 |accessdate=17 August 2012}}</ref>

===Seminar of C Manjula===
A seminar titled 'The Role of Alcohol and Drugs in the Mangalore Attack' was conducted under C. Manjula, the chairperson of the Women's Commission.

Kannada thinker M Chidananda Murthy, senior advocate Pramila Nesargi, Women's Commission head C Manjula and KSTB chairperson Sacchinanda Hegde said the victims were under the influence of alcohol.<ref name="mm">{{cite web|title=Alcohol blamed for homestay attack|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article589054.ece|accessdate=14 August 2012}}</ref>

They claimed alcohol was the main reason for attack at the Morning Mist Homestay in Mangalore. Sacchinanda Hegde insisted that the 5 girls and 2 boys were part of a rave party.<ref name="mm" /> He further claimed media portrayed it as a birthday bash as a daughter of a police official was present at the party and claimed officials had found beer bottles at the homestay.<ref name="mm" />

== See also ==
* [[2009 Mangalore pub attack]]
*[[Moral police]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=History of Mangalore, Violence against women in India, Violence in India, Conservatism in India, Mass sexual assault
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[[Category:History of Mangalore]]
[[Category:Violence against women in India]]
[[Category:Violence in India]]
[[Category:Conservatism in India]]
[[Category:Mass sexual assault]]