Minister Mankal Vaidya condemns assault on woman in Malpe, calls for strict action

Udupi: Karnataka Fisheries and Ports Minister Mankal S Vaidya has condemned the recent incident in Malpe, where a woman was tied to a tree and brutally assaulted over allegations of stealing fish. Expressing concern, the minister stated that such barbaric acts have no place in a civilised society and warned that the government will not tolerate people taking the law into their own hands.

"It is disturbing to hear about a woman being tied to a tree and brutally beaten over mere accusations of theft. Whatever the case, tying a woman’s hands and feet and assaulting her in this manner is inhumane and a serious crime. Such barbaric behaviour in the coastal district is a stain on our culture," the minister said in a statement on Wednesday.

He further stressed that Karnataka has a police and legal system in place to deal with crimes like theft, cheating, and fraud. "If a complaint is filed, the police are competent to investigate and take action as per the law. The government will not tolerate vigilantism," he asserted.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already expressed regret over the incident and directed the police to conduct a thorough investigation and take necessary legal action against those responsible, he added.

The shocking incident, which took place on March 18 in Malpe, Udupi district, came to light after a video of the assault went viral on social media, prompting police intervention. Based on a complaint filed by the survivor, Malpe police registered a case and launched an investigation.

According to Udupi Superintendent of Police Dr. K. Arun, the woman, a resident of Vijayanagara district, was accused of stealing fish by a local woman named Lakshmibai. Following this, a group of locals allegedly tied the victim to a tree and physically assaulted her, as seen in the widely circulated video.