Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Apr 14: In relation to the incident near Ullal on the evening of Saturday April 13 in which friction had taken place after people returning from Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's rally here, were allegedly attacked, the police have continued with their probe including questioning various people and checking CCTV footage.
Verbal altercations after a car returning from the rally got involved with a minor accident after it brushed against a two-wheeler driven by a local woman, had blown out of proportions after stones were pelted and people in vehicles were attacked.
The police have since made certain arrests. The number of people so far arrested in this regard has reached seven. The police, it is learnt, are planning to make more arrests.
Earlier update
Pics: Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 13: Clashes erupted at Madani Nagar in Kuthar here late evening on Saturday April 13 after a collision between a scooter rider returning from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally and a car.
Modi's election rally was held earlier in the evening at Nehru Maidan in the city amidst a sea of people.
Sources said that two persons who attended the rally were returning home when their two-wheeler collided with a car.
The accident soon turned into a clash between two groups, with a bus of people, also returning from Modi's rally, siding with the scooter riders.
According to reports, the passengers in the bus began shouting 'Modi, Modi' slogans. This provoked the local youths at the spot who responded by pelting stones at the bus, sources said.
BJP workers claimed that the youths entered the bus and attacked women.
Youths who were in the bus also retaliated and a fight ensued, it is learnt.
Those injured in the clash were admitted to hospital. They have been identified as Sujan, Samsheer, Nahush and Ajmal.
People gathered in front of the Konaje police station demanding arrest of the suspects.
Konaje police rushed to the spot and police commissioner Sandeep Patil also arrived. Security has been tightened in the area.
T G Rajaram Bhat of BJP however said that there was no accident as claimed, and expressed suspicions that the stone-pelting had been planned. "The bus was returning from Modi election rally when, on reaching Madani Nagar, about four or five youths waylaid the bus. The passengers naturally got down to check what was wrong. Only the women stayed behind. Immediately, the youths who stopped our bus barged inside and started attacking the women. Out of fear, the women took cover behind the seats of the bus. After this, hundreds of people from the minority community of Madani Nagar surrounded the bus.
"We were in another bus behind this bus. On seeing us, the youths fled away. Prima facie, it looks like all this was pre-planned. Even during peaceful times, there are police personnel on guard in Madani Nagar. However, today they were not. Only two constables were there, but they also took no action when the attack was happening. If our people had retaliated, it would have become a big issue. Our demand is only this - Our bus was attacked, our women were attacked and manhandled. The people responsible for this must be arrested. Police are saying that they will take action by tonight or tomorrow morning. They are saying four have been taken into custody. But the women who were attacked want to see their attackers in order to identify them. Police cannot arrest some random persons and make drama. We want justice and we will not budge till it is done," he said.
According to the FIR filed with the police, stones were pelted on the bus returning from the rally after an altercation ensued between the two groups. The complaint states that women were assaulted. Police said that the incident is being taken seriously and a few of the accused have been already detained. The police also assured the protestors who had gathered at Konaje police station that strong action would be taken.