Kuttar: Stones pelted at bus returning from Modi rally,

Mangaluru: Miscreants pelted stones on vehicles with the excuse that a vehicle returning from Prime Minister Modi’s rally conducted at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru had collided with a two wheeler at Madina Nagar in Kuttar within Ullal police station limits. Two buses and cars suffered damages in the incident. The fight between the groups injured five persons and women.

Many BJP workers staged a protest in front of Konaje police station late into the night demanding the arrest of the accused whom they alleged to have entered the bus and manhandled the women within.

On Saturday evening around 6 pm in the evening, a bus returning from Modi’s rally in Mangaluru became prey to stone pelting by some miscreants at Nadupadavu in Konaje, besides two BJP workers coming in a car where kicked by the miscreants and the injured duo got themselves admitted to a hospital for treatment. The injured are identified as Sujan and Nahusha, residents of Kumpala.

Due to the stone pelting and assault, Shamsir and Mohammed Ajmal, both residents of Madina Nagar were injured.

Accident became an excuse!

A car containing BJP workers, returning from the rally collided with a scooter being driven by a woman belonging to another community at Madina Nagar and eventually an argument broke out between the locals and the passengers of the car. Meanwhile, the bus returning from the rally also reached the spot and the already argument at the spot only escalated and converted into a fight.

Even as a fight ensued between the two groups, miscreants gained access into the bus, pulled out its occupants and assaulted them. A woman worker in the bus was manhandled while another woman suffered injuries. The stone pelting and fighting with sticks continued for 15 minutes. Bus window panes were damaged. Out of fear, the locals pulled down the shutters of their shops.

Protest in front of the station

Though the incident which occurred at Madina Nagar is which Ullal police jurisdiction, the workers took the vehicles to Konaje police station and started a protest demanding that the accused the arrested. More than 15 buses which had come from Konaje, Mudipu, Nadupadavu, Harekala, Pavoor, Fajir, Ira, Balepuni and other places, other vehicles and many people gathered in front of the police station.

During the occasion, the injured woman worker spoke with the reporters and said that two locals barged into the bus and pulled her head hair. Meanwhile those on the outside kept pelting stones at the bus. She urged the police to arrest the accused immediately.

Lack of police

Normally, if there is big convention organised in Mangaluru, additional police personnel are appointed at sensitive areas like Kallapu, Kuttar and Madina Nagar. But on Saturday, since there were only two police personnel at the location, the situation could not be controlled. Additional police personnel reached the location after 15 minutes and then chased away the people.

Advice from elders

It was observed that when the team of youth was indulging in stone pelting and attacking with sticks, a team of elders ventured into the conflict and attempted to stop it. Yet, the occupants of three buses fell prey to assault.

Leaders visit

Pro Hindutva leaders a including Mangaluru Constituency president Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyar, Rajaram Bhat, Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik Uleppadi and former MLC Cap. Ganesh Karnik visited the incident spot as well as Konaje police station and discussed the situation with senior police officials.

Two arrested

Speaking on the incident Mangaluru City Police Commissioner said, the attack on women is reprehensible. Direction has been given to collect the CCTV footage from the cameras in Kuttar area. Information regarding the women who were attacked has been collected. Two have been arrested. 3 inspectors and a staff of 20 personnel has been appointed to the location. Cases against the accused will be booked under tough sections. The protest lasted till 10:30 pm in front of the police station. We are attempting to arrest the accused during the night, said Mr Patil post which the protest was withdrawn.