BELTHANGADY, KARNATAKA – Five individuals have been booked by the Beltangady police in connection with an incident of alleged moral policing and threat near the scenic Didupe Falls in Malavantige village. The case was registered following a complaint filed by a young woman who was visiting the popular tourist spot with a male friend.
According to the complaint lodged with the authorities, the woman, a resident of Mangaluru, had taken a day off from work to visit Didupe Falls with her friend. Upon their arrival at the parking area near the waterfall on Sunday, July 12, a group of five to six men reportedly intercepted them. The men allegedly questioned the woman about traveling with a companion from a different community, before proceeding to hurl verbal abuses and issue life threats to the pair.
The Beltangady police have registered a case under Crime No. 75/2026, invoking sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including Sections 126(2), 352, and 351(2) read with 3(5). The accused have been identified as Ranjith, Sudarshan, Swastik, Pradeep, and Deekshith, along with other unidentified individuals involved in the incident.
The Didupe Falls, located in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, is a popular natural attraction known for its cascading waters amidst lush greenery. The area, while a draw for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts, has also seen its share of reported incidents. In a separate case in May 2026, three youths from Kerala were arrested for allegedly misbehaving with and sexually harassing female students during a trip to the same waterfall.
In that earlier incident, the accused, identified as Abdul Khader Altaf, Faizal Adil, and Usman Salim, had allegedly taken three young women studying in Mangaluru to the falls. The women reportedly resisted the alleged misconduct, drawing the attention of other visitors and locals who intervened before alerting the police. Cases were registered, and legal action was initiated against those individuals.
The recent incident involving the five booked individuals highlights ongoing concerns about safety and moral policing at tourist destinations in the region. The police have stated that a detailed investigation into the matter is underway, and strict legal action will be pursued against the culprits.
The Chenab Times News Desk