Moral policing: Father-son arrested in connection with assault on minor boy in Mangaluru

Father and son arrested in Mangaluru for assaulting a minor boy and recording the incident on video.

The Mangaluru City South Police arrested two persons in connection with the assault on a minor boy, who was found with a minor girl on the railway track at Pandeshwar in Mangaluru on February 23 evening.

The police identified the arrested persons as Steven Monterio and his son Avil.

In the complaint filed at the Mangaluru City South Police Station on February 25, the boy’s father, a resident of Mulihitlu, said his son, a class 9 student, was chatting with his friend, a Class 10 student, by the railway track at Babugudde on February 23 evening. Steven, who runs a laundry in the area and knows the boy’s father, came to the railway track with Avil.

Accusing the boy of kissing the girl, Steven allegedly abused him. As the couple were leaving the place, Steven allegedly started taking photographs of the duo, and also made a video. Avil allegedly pulled the boy to the side. He also allegedly assaulted the boy, which Steven recorded on video.

Steven allegedly warned the boy against coming to the area again before abused him by referring to his Bakuda caste, a scheduled caste. He also allegedly threatened to post the photographs and video on social media.

On February 25, the boy’s father father came across the video and photographs of the incident on WhatsApp. He sought action against Steven and Avil for assaulting a minor, illegally posting images and video of his minor son and the minor girl on social media, and abusing his son by referring to his caste.