Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy on October 29 issued a comprehensive statement addressing public discourse and social media criticism surrounding the recent suicide of Somanath in Surathkal. His remarks specifically challenged narratives that seemed to justify alleged misconduct, emphasizing the gravity of the incident that led to police intervention.
Reddy began by extending deep condolences to Somanath's family and the community, acknowledging the profound grief caused by the loss of a life. However, he swiftly pivoted to counter a particular Facebook post by a journalist, which, under the caption 'Is this justice for a life?', appeared to suggest Somanath was merely 'trying to teach a girl a lesson.'
The Commissioner clarified that police had initially withheld specific details out of respect for the deceased and to protect the girl's dignity and privacy. Yet, with public accusations against the police and portrayals that seemed to condone the alleged behavior, he stated, 'we cannot allow the truth to be misrepresented.'
He revealed that video footage from the beach incident, which preceded Somanath's death, clearly showed the individuals involved were under the influence of alcohol. The girl had not called police for permission to be on the beach at night, but rather for help, experiencing threats and abuse. Her detailed statement is on record, and the allegations she made are serious, making it impossible to dismiss the incident as a benign attempt to 'teach a lesson.'
Reddy posed critical questions to the public, challenging the notion of moral policing: 'Isn't encouraging people to threaten girls in the name of teaching them a lesson an invitation to hooliganism? Is it acceptable for a group of drunken men to 'correct' a woman for being in a public place at night?' He urged citizens to consider if they would want their own daughters or sisters subjected to such treatment by intoxicated strangers.
Concluding his statement, the Commissioner stressed the significant responsibility of journalism. He warned against publishing narratives that normalize moral policing or wrongly blame a complainant, noting that Mangaluru has witnessed how such portrayals can incite individuals to take the law into their own hands. He urged media professionals to verify facts diligently and avoid promoting or justifying unethical conduct.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati DK