'Dilwale' row: Bajrang Dal member arrested for abusive comments against female activist in Mangaluru

Bajrang Dal Mangaluru city co-convener Puneeth Raj Kottari was arrested on Sunday after allegedly posting sexually abusive and threatening messages against social activist Vidya Dinker on Facebook. 

Dinker, co-ordinator of the Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development, had protested and filed a complaint against the disruption of screenings of Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal groups. The groups had opposed the film as they were against the actor's comments about the intolerance debate. In retaliation, there were nasty and sexually abusive hate comments made against Dinker on social media. 

Dinker then sent a letter to the city police commissioner asking for action to be taken, after which the abusive comments made by Bajrang Dal city co-convener Puneeth Raj Kottari were apparently removed.  

On Sunday, Puneeth Raj Kottari was arrested by the Mangaluru East (Kadri) police. Dinker has also complained against 22 other people, but their names have not been released. 

Meanwhile, the VHP Dakshina Kannada district President Jagadish Shenava issued a statement saying that will not be continuing with the protests as the theatre owners themselves had decided not to screen the film. But if they did, the protests would resume, he said. 

The Hindu states that Dinker has also written to the Home Minister to ensure that the law is upheld in Dakshina Kannada.