Mangaluru PG Owner, Associates Assault Student Over Negative Google Review

Mangaluru: In a shocking incident, an 18-year-old engineering student was allegedly assaulted by a group of five individuals, including the owner of a boys’ PG accommodation, after he posted a negative review online. The attack took place on March 17 around 10:30 pm under the Kadri police station’s jurisdiction. The victim, Vikas, a native of Kalaburagi, had been staying at the PG for six months before moving to a different place. Dissatisfied with the living conditions, he left a one-star review on Google, criticizing poor hygiene, insect-infested food, and unclean toilets.

According to police reports, PG owner Santosh confronted Vikas and pressured him to delete the review. When the student refused, Santosh, along with four others, allegedly assaulted him and forced him to remove the comment. Vikas later lodged a complaint, leading to a case being registered against the accused. Authorities have assured a thorough investigation into the matter, raising concerns over the safety of students in PG accommodations and the growing menace of online review suppression through intimidation.