Gang assaults, tonsures three accusing them of being ganja peddlers

Kochi: In an incident of moral policing, a group of six assaulted and tonsured three men in Perumbavoor, accusing them of being ganja peddlers.The incident occurred at Kandanthara (Bhai Colony) in Perumbavoor.

The incident comes a week after home minister Ramesh Chennithala visited the locality as part of Operation Toofan — campaign against trade of narcotics.The victims are a 20-year-old hailing from Kandanthara and two Marambally natives, aged 21 and 18. The incident occurred around 4.30pm on Wednesday.Sources said that the men went to the area after the supervisor of a soda factory informed them of a job vacancy, as the company was facing staff shortage due to migrant workers returning home.As per the FIR, the accused stopped them in front of a company named Topz Soda. The accused asked them why they came to the area and verbally abused them. The accused then punched and hit the trio. They then took two among them into a room in the company and assaulted them after forcing them to strip. The trio were then made to kneel outside the company, and a barber, a migrant worker, was brought to the spot. The accused made him tonsure the trio and forced the victims to gather their hair from the ground.

The factory supervisor was reportedly prevented from intervening.The accused were booked under Sections 126(2) wrongful restraint, 127(2) wrongful confinement, 296(b) using obscene words, 115(2) causing hurt, 133 dishonour assault, 189 unlawful assembly, 191(2) rioting and 190 joint liability of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.Police sources said that the accused have been identified and they will be arrested soon. Two of the victims admitted that they had narcotic cases in the past, but they had stopped using them. Incidents of moral policing relating to drug sales have occurred in the region in the past as well. Police said that strict action would be initiated against those who indulge in such activities.