Malpe, March 22: A suo motu case has been registered at the Malpe Police Station against former Karnataka minister Pramod Madhwaraj for allegedly making provocative and inflammatory statements during a protest meeting in Malpe. The gathering was organized by the Malpe Fishermen's Association in response to the recent incident where a woman was tied to a tree and assaulted at Malpe port.

During his address to the public, Madhwaraj reportedly defended the actions of those involved in the assault, questioning the delay in police response and justifying the attack. "What will we do if thieves come to our house? What will we do if the police arrive 5-6 hours late? We have to tie up the thieves, what else can we do? Did they hit her with a mace, sword, or weapon? They only slapped her on both cheeks. That too to a person accused of being a thief. Did that woman have any objection?" he allegedly stated.

The complaint against Madhwaraj accuses him of making an inflammatory speech that could incite violence and justify unlawful actions. The police have invoked Sections 57, 191(1), and 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the case.

The remarks come in the wake of widespread outrage over the Malpe port incident, where a woman was tied to a tree and assaulted by a group of people on suspicion of theft. The incident was caught on video and went viral on social media, prompting strong condemnation from various quarters, including Karnataka Fisheries and Ports Minister Mankal Vaidya, who termed the act as inhumane and unacceptable.

Malpe Police are investigating the matter further.

Get all the latest, breaking news from Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada in a single click. CLICK HERE to get all the latest news from Mangaluru.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



New Delhi (PTI): Two men accused in an attempt to murder case in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area were apprehended after a shootout, an official said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Rocky (22) and Sumit alias Koki (24), were allegedly involved in an attempt to murder on April 17, he said.

According to police, the incident involved two assailants arriving on a motorcycle, with one of them allegedly attempting to fire at the complainant from close range. However, the weapon malfunctioned, and the duo fled the spot.

Acting on specific inputs, a police team intercepted the suspects near the Urban Extension Road (UER) at around 5.35 am when they were riding a motorcycle.

When asked to surrender, Rocky allegedly opened fire at the police team and discharged three rounds. One of the bullets struck the bulletproof vest of a head constable, narrowly missing him.

"The police team retaliated in controlled self-defence, firing three rounds and injuring Rocky below his left knee. He was subsequently overpowered after a brief scuffle," a senior police officer said.

Sumit alias Koki, who was riding the motorcycle, was also apprehended at the spot with a loaded weapon and a live cartridge, police added.

The injured accused was shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. The police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind the attack and to identify any other persons involved in the conspiracy.