Pics: Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 24: People from second and fifth wards of Ullal, who faced lot of problems on account of disturbances which erupted in the town last month, have collectively decided to boycott the ensuing Lok Sabha election. This decision was taken in protest against the alleged arrest of  innocent people in connection with the turmoil.

A meeting of the citizens of these wards was held at Ullal Kody on Sunday March 23. The meeting, organized under the leadership of Kody Badriya Jumma Masjid president, Muhammed Ashraf, secretary, Abdullatif, former president, Muhammed Haji, Dargah Committee members, Rafique, Basheer Haji, U K Muhammed and several local leaders, had a participation of about 500, most of them youngsters.

The participants of the meeting noted that Hindus and Muslims have been enjoying harmonious coexistence in Ullal since times immemorial. They unanimously agreed that the unsavoury incidents of the last month had been caused by some anti-social elements, but objected to the police action in arresting innocent youth.

“The police barged into houses, behaved indecently with the women, took away innocent youngsters, and booked them under section 307 if Indian Penal Code. These youth have been dispatched to Bellary jail, and no peoples’ representatives came forward to help them. Therefore, we have to teach these leaders a lesson by abstaining from voting,” the people demanded.

In his address, Kody mosque president, Muhammed Ashraf, noted that a wedge has been created between the Mogaveeras (fishermen community) and Muslims living in the town because of these incidents. He said that innocent people from both these communities had been made scapegoats for the mischief committed by some trouble makers. “The police had asked the leaders of the communities to catch hold of, and hand over to them, the culprits, and this fact had been brought to the notice of peoples’ representatives,” he revealed.

Entrepreneur, Rahim, asked the people not to get lured by money or other enticements the concerned might offer, and back the decision to boycott the election collectively. A number of other leaders like Abdul Aziz and Fayaz also addressed the gathering.  Two councilors representing these wards, Ashraf Bava, and Kunhimonu, also came on the scene and pledged their support to finding a lasting solution to the problem. They fell short of making concrete promises, as they said, they were bound by election code of conduct.