Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 4: Ankit Poojary, who has been accused of murdering an auto rickshaw driver, Hanif, injuring another auto rickshaw driver, and also pelting of stones at a mosque at Adi Udupi here, was on Friday, February 3, remanded to three days police custody by the court.

Investigating officer in the case, police circle inspector, Navin Chandra Jogi, had filed application in the court, seeking the custody of the accused, who was in judicial custody, for further investigation relating to the above murder case. Judge of the court, Shivaram, after examining the request, remanded Ankit to three days police custody. Ankit will be produced in the court again on February 6.

Currently Ankit has been given to police custody relating to Hanif murder case. Once this period is completed, the police propose to take him into custody again relating to the stone pelting incident at mosque. An application has already been moved by them in the court, which will come up for hearing on February 6.

In the meanwhile, members of self help groups and other locals belonging to minority communities staged protest demonstration in front of the office of the district superintendent of police (SP) here on Friday, urging the police to bring into the open the entire conspiracy and persons involved with this incident. Addressing the protesters, advocate, Hamzat Hejamady, said that it is impossible for an individual to murder a person and throw stones at the mosque on his own. He felt that an innocent was killed with the specific objective of disturbing peace, by powers aimed at disrupting peace. He also urged the government to take measures to protect auto drivers from such incidents. A memorandum containing these demands was handed over to the superintendent of police through deputy superintendent of police, Kumaraswamy.  

A number of dignitaries took part in the protest.