Mangaluru: 173 communal incidents reported in 2014 against 121 cases in 2013 in the DK and Udupi Districts. This was the statement made by two local organizations -the district units of the Komu Souharda Vedike and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) in a memorandum to the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim. The memorandum demanded that monthly meetings be held with victims from the minority communities.

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A press release issued by  Suresh Bhat, president of the district unit of of the Komu Souharda Vedike, David D’Souza president of the district unit of the PUCL, and members including those who are members of the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind  said that Of the 53 moral policing incidents in 2014, Hindu youths were the accused in 39 of them while Muslims were accused in 14. In 2013, there were reported 45 cases of moral policing with Hindus being the accused in 23 cases and Muslims in 16 and the accused were not known in the rest.

As many as 22 cases of prevention of cow transport or attacks on transporters, nine allegations of forcible religious conversions, eight cases of inciting speeches were reported. In 2013, there were eight cases of prevention of cow transport or attacks on transporters and allegations of forcible conversions were nine. Other cases, including inciting religious sentiments, were 59.

Other instances, including clashes between students and the destruction of banners and posters, accounted for 81 cases.

Interestingly, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail clarified that that they were not based on police reports but rather on newspaper reports – clippings of which have been maintained.