Payyannur: The police have arrested five people for moral policing after they allegedly attacked a group of students at Edattu Turuth in Kerala's Kannur district.
The arrested were M P Mohanan, 49, C Pavithran, 45, A V Akash, 29, C C Manoj and M Satheesan, 46. The accused have been let off on bail.
The moral policing incident happened on Wednesday. The students were attacked while they were returning after presenting a street play and planting mangrove saplings as part of the district panchayat's Wetlands Day celebration. Even girls had sustained injuries in the attack.
A team of students had reached Edattu Turuth for the practice sessions for a drama on creating awareness on protecting the mangrove forest.
A nine-member gang had barged into the project office of the Wildlife Trust of India at Edattu Turuth and attacked the students, according to the police complaint filed by Payyannur College student Abhijith, 20, of Neeleshwaram.
A youth and girl from the group, who were engaged in bird-watching near the mangrove forest, were questioned by some people, which led to an altercation and culminated in the attack.
Protesting the moral policing incident, students took out a march and held a public meeting.
The accused were arrested by SI Sreejtih Koderi and team.