In yet another incident of moral policing in Kerala, a group of Shiv Sena supporters attacked young couples on Marine Drive in Kochi on Wednesday evening.
The events unfurled as a handful of Shiv Sena men, some of them wielding canes, took out a march through Marine Drive.
The incident took place in the presence of policemen and mediapersons and a police sub inspector was suspended and eight constables were transferred for their failure to prevent the harassment.
Police said that the Sena activists took out a procession, with a banner 'stop love under umbrella' on Wednesday. They then verbally abused the couples and threatened them to vacate the walkway.
Some of the Sena supporters then caned the couples and asked them not to return to the walkway anymore, police informed.
The situation was brought under control after more policemen reached the spot.
Six Sena activists were arrested in connection with the incident. The arrests were made under charges of causing public nuisance and holding procession without police permission.