Interfaith couple assaulted in Karnataka, video sparks outrage

A group of six men barged into the hotel room of an interfaith couple, hurling expletives and thrashing them in Karnataka’s Haveri district. As per police reports, the 6 men, upon receiving the information of an interfaith couple lodging at the hotel, decided to reprimand the couple for being in a relationship in spite of their religious differences. The video of the attackers assaulting the couple has now gone viral on social media, garnering the ire of the netizens.

The incident took place on January 7, however, the matter surfaced after the couple formally lodged a complaint with the police. “The six accused, who are from the minority community, have been charged with attempt to murder, kidnapping and outraging the modesty of a woman. Two of the six have been arrested and we are trying to locate the other four," said a police officer.

The attackers had filmed themselves assaulting the interfaith couple, the video of which has now been widely circulated on social media. The video shows the attackers entering the hotel, noting the room number, following which, they knocked on the door. Once the door was opened, they barged inside the hotel room, and dashed towards the woman, who was seen trying to cover her face with a burqa. Hurling abuses, the 6 men beat the woman up. The man tried to run away from the room, but was caught by 2 attackers and cornered near the woman, after which, they were both beaten up to the point where the woman collapsed on the floor.

In a separate video recorded outside the lodge after the incident, the woman is seen trying to cover her face with her burqa. However, the attackers lifted her hijab, exposing her face.

AN investigation is underway and the police have so far arrested 2 of the 6 accused and are on the lookout for the others.