Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Apr 7: Four persons, accused of vandalizing the house of Baba Abubakker Mastani in Kavalapadoor village near Punjalkatte in the taluk, were arrested by the policemen of the rural police station on the night of Tuesday April 5. On the same day, a complaint was also registered against 50 persons, holding them responsible for inflicting widespread damages to the said house.
Abdul Khader (40) from Kavalakatte, his brother, Hasanabba (28), Ansar (19) from Madhwa, and Mohammed Altaf (27), were arrested. On being produced in the court, they were remanded to judicial custody.
Mastani, who used to stay here since the last 14 years, used to claim that he has superhuman powers to rid people, who were taken over by ghosts, of the problem. One of his assistants, Adam, was claimed to invoke serpent god on himself to relieve people of various problems. Mastani came to be known as ‘Fake Baba’ after a television channel sent a fake patient to him for healing, and unmasked his real self. Angry mobs, which came in vehicles from various places, had attacked his house and demolished a major portion thereof on Tuesday. Mastani had left home reportedly early morning on Tuesday, and is not to be seen thereafter. The family members were able to save themselves from the ire of the mob.
The policemen, who have registered the compliant of vandalizing Mastani’s house on the basis of a statement made by Abdul Rahaman, neighbour and relative of Mastani, are investigating. In the meantime, Meharban, foster daughter of Mastani, has complained to the policemen that Mastani had tried to rape her. Hence, a hunt for Mastani, who has gone missing, has also been launched. Mastani used to run a charitable trust, and collect funds for various purposes. He used to stay with 11 others including wife, Zainab, her elder sister’s daughter, Rashida Banu, her husband, son, and six children of his brother in the past. After his wife and children went away, he brought two daughters of his elder sister, Maimuna, and looked after them. It is learnt that inter-family squabbles were the main reason for the said incident.
Assistant superintendent of police, Dr Rohini Katoch, Bantwal circle inspector, Nanjunde Gowda, rural sub inspector, M M Tahsildar and personnel are involved with the investigation.