The Taliban, in virtual control of northern parts of Pakistan, has exhibited its fanatical mindset. Young girls are prohibited on pain of death from attending schools. All this is done in the name of Allah and to preserve Koranic values. Regrettably, we also have a Taliban in our midst. This is evident from the brutal attack by members of the Sri Rama Sene on young girls in a pub in Mangalore. God and preservation of Indian culture is the spurious justification offered. There is no repentance for these savage acts by Pramod Muttalik, the founder of the Sri Rama Sene. If objectionable activities take place in a pub, by all means take stern action against the owner and the participants in accordance with the law. But hooligans masquerading as protectors of religion and spiritual values cannot take the law into their hands. This pernicious trend must be eliminated lest our lives be ruled by murderous bigots and the rule of law becomes an impotent spectator. Swift and stringent action is the need of the hour. The notion that such criminal acts can be committed with impunity must be thoroughly dispelled.

A disturbing aspect is the presence of the media near the pub before the gruesome incident took place. Obviously they were tipped off in advance in which case it was their duty to inform the police about the planned attack. Was the temptation of first reporting the incident with gory particulars too strong for the media to resist? Another distressing feature is the reluctance of the people to come to the rescue of the girls. It was Pawan Kumar Shetty, a young boy who single-handedly took on the rampaging mob, thereby helping several young girls escape. He surely deserves a Padma.

... contd.