Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur(EP)
Puttur, Jul 17: A group of over 20 persons entered Rakteshwari petrol pump and allegedly assaulted the staff and decamped with Rs 69,600, suspecting that the petrol pump staff were informers of illegal transport of cattle. In retaliation, another group allegedly attacked the local mosque on Friday July 17 and assaulted two persons.
It is said that members of members of Bajrang Dal had kept a watch on cattle traffickers, and trouble arose between two groups over the issue. Following the arguments, a group of around 20 allegedly assaulted the staff at the petrol bunk, alleging that they were informers.
The group who arrived in vehicles without number plates allegedly assaulted petrol pump staff Nithyananda and Lokesh and robbed the amount. They also reportedly threatened to set fire to them and the petrol pump if they informed about their activities to anyone. Meanwhile Shobhavathi, the wife of the petrol bunk owner complained to Uppinangady station police and named thirteen out of the 20-plus assaulters.
In retaliation, six persons came in three bikes to the local Badriya Jumma mosque, and believing the assaulters to be hiding there, allegedly attacked two persons identified Kalandar and Arif who were in the mosque. "They also damaged the switch board and notice board in the mosqye. Kalander has been admitted to a private hospital in Mangaluru," said former president of Jumma mosque and current president of Young Men’s association Yusuf, while speaking to media after visiting the spot.
In a complaint lodged in Uppinangady police station, it has been alleged that a group of 22 people entered the mosque and assaulted with weapons.
President of Badriya Jumma mosque condemned the incident an said that strict action should be taken against those trying to disturb peace in Kokkada.
The police have registered complaints from both sides and are investigating.
As tense atmosphere prevailed in the area, Uppinangady police arrived with additional police teams and brought the situation under control. Additional SP V S Kumar, DySP Bhaskar Rai, circle inspector Anil Kulkarni, SI Thimmappa Naik and other policemen are stationed there. They also took steps to arrest the accused.
Ambiguity
Former president of Jumma mosque Yusuf said that six persons who came in three bikes assaulted two who were in the mosque. "It seems like they came not with intention to take revenge but with some other motive. They inflicted minor damage and assaulted only two persons. Their intention may be to cause communal disturbance," he said.
Besides, the leaders of both communities have condemned the incident and all are pained by these attempts to disturb peace, he added.
Locals also said that only six had come to the mosque, but complaint has been filed against 22. Most of complainants belong to distant Golithottu area. It is said that this incident has been used as an 'excuse' by and some youths who were allegedly involved in recent communal clashes at Golithottu have also been named in the complaint. Some locals while speaking to media alleged that it was a false complaint, and that the police had given in to political pressure while registering the case.
District Congress minority unit president Ismail N, Nelyadi gram panchayat member Hamid Painter, Kokkada gram panchayat president V J Sebastian, Mohammed Puttu Kokkada, Arasina Makki gram panchayat president Jagannath Gowda, Beltangady tahsildar Putta Shetty and others visited the place.
'Don't arrest innocents'
Urging police not to arrest innocents, Hindu Jagruti Vedike Nelyadi convener Ravi Prasad Shetty said, "The attack on mosque is politically motivated. If the police lodge complaints against innocents and arrest them, we will protest in front of the police station."