MALAPPURAM: Two youths and their car have been attacked by goons in a suspected moral policing incident at Eranhimavu near Areekode in the district Wednesday night. The men from Cheekode near Kondotty were said to be on their way to a temple festival nearby. The injured youths identified as Abdul Mubashir, 30, and Saifudheen, 25, were hospitalised in Mukkam with minor injuries. The vigilantes also attacked two police officers from Areekode station who reached the spot to rescue them. The car in which Mr Mubashir and Mr Saifudheen were travelling was destroyed.

The police booked around 100 persons, but could not arrest anyone so far. The residents formed a group after repeated incidents of theft. The attacked the two when they failed to name the place of the festival. The goons trapped them by spreading the registration number and photo of their car along with a message asking to block them if found in the area. Then a gang blocked them at Eranhimavu and attacked them with iron rods. The police said the area was under vigil for the last few months due to repeated cases of theft.