27 Hindu radicals held for attacking women in Indian club

Jan 27, 2009, 7:44 GMT

   New Delhi - At least 27 activists of a right-wing Hindu group were arrested for assaulting women at a club in India's southern state of Karnataka, amid growing national outrage over the incident, officials said Tuesday.

   Prasad Attavar, a top leader of the Sri Ram Sene (Lord Ram's Army) and 26 members of the outfit were arrested for attacking five women who were drinking and dancing in a club in the city Mangalore in the west of the state on Saturday night, police said.

   According to officials, 40 Sene men drove the women out of the bar, beating them and dragging them by their hair, accusing them of 'immoral behaviour,' wearing indecent clothes and drinking and socializing with non-Hindus.

   The arrests were made since Monday evening after nationwide anger and criticism in the Indian media over the 'moral policing' by the radical Hindus.

   The Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which rules Karnataka also faced flak for failing to take prompt action against the group.

   BJP president Rajnath Singh condemned the attack and clarified that the party had no links with the group.

   'We are carrying out searches in and around Mangalore to nab the remaining accused,' a local police official said on condition of anonymity.

   Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhary described the assault as an attempt to 'Talibanize India.'

   The minister demanded an explanation from the state government and asked the National Commission for Women to probe the incident.

   'This is Talibanization of India, it will not be tolerated. I will approach the Election Commission to disenfranchise the organization involved in this and those associated with it,' she said.