Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jan 6: Mangaluru city police commissioner T S Suresh on Saturday January 6 said that the four persons arrested in connection to the attack on Basheer at Kottara Chowki have confessed to the crime, and that he was attacked in revenge for Deepak's murder in Katipalla. Both the incidents happened on January 3.
Giving details in a press meet here, the police commissioner said, "Abdul Basheer was brutally attacked by bike-borne men at his fast food restaurant in Kottara Chowki just as he was about to leave for the night. Basheer is presently undergoing treatment in a hospital. His brother Latheef has filed the complaint in Kavoor police station.
"The Mangaluru CCB team has succeeded in arresting four persons in the case, namely Shreejith P K alias Shreeju (25), a resident of Uppala, Kishan Poojary (21) of Padil, Dhanush Poojary (22), also of Padil, and Sandesh Kotian (22) of Kunjathur, Manjeshwar. Among them, Dhanush and Kishan are brothers.
"All the four have criminal backgrounds. Shreejith is an accused in six cases in Kasargod police station and one in Ullal police station. Kishan faces three cases while Dhanush was earlier booked for assault by the Kankanady police. Sandesh is an accused in one case in Badiadka police station in Kasargod district," he said.
He also said that the motive behind the attack on Basheer was retaliation for Deepak Rao's murder that happened the same afternoon in Katipalla.
"The accused came to Kankanady to participate in the Garodi festival. There, they came to know about Deepak's murder. They then planned revenge. They went to Dhanush's house to collect weapons. There was no previous enmity between Basheer and the accused," the commissioner said.
"The accused are part of a right-wing organization, but so far they have not named the organization. Investigation is in on to find out more," he added.
Regarding the murder of Deepak Rao in Katipalla, T R Suresh said that the police have arrested four persons, and that they have denied being funded from outside or by some organization, contrary to media reports.
Advisory for media
The police commissioner also issued an advisory to the media and urged journalists to apply discretion while reporting on the case. "We have noticed that some media channels are telecasting video footages of the attack on Basheer, which could be harmful for communal harmony. The district administration has issued notice to such channels. We request the media to avoid such videos and provocative pictures."
According to the advisory:
1. News, views and comments relating to communcal issues may be telecast only after proper verification of facts and presented with due caution and restraint, in a manner which is not an impediment for maintainence of peace and harmony.
2. Exercise restraint while covering incidents of violence and rioting.
3. Not to carry news in a way that it incites violence.
4. Telecast of visuals of violence may be avoided.
5. While reporting the incidents, care may be exercised in the choice of words.