Udupi: An auto-rickshaw driver was reportedly attacked with a sword in a murder attempt near Shedigudde late at night on May 1. The incident occurred around 11:15 PM, and police have arrested two accused in connection with the case.
The arrested have been identified as Sandesh (31), a resident of Bommarabettu in Hiriyadka, and Sushanth (32), a resident of Bapuji Darga.
The victim, identified as Aboobacker (50) from Atradi, was driving his auto-rickshaw towards Madaga on hire. While he was passing near the Atradi Gas Petrol Bunk, two men on a bike began following him. They allegedly threatened Aboobacker and tried to force him to stop the rickshaw. Refusing to stop, he continued driving.
One of the bike riders was seen holding a sword. Realizing the danger, Aboobacker attempted to flee after stopping his auto near the residence of a Rose Bus employee in Shedigudde. The attackers targeted his head with the sword, but he managed to escape unhurt.
In a further act of vandalism, the accused reportedly smashed the front glass of the auto with a bottle. Aboobacker managed to flee by jumping over a nearby compound wall. A case has been registered at the Hiriyadka Police Station.
Acting immediately, the police arrested both accused and booked them under attempt to murder.
Retaliation for Suhas Shetty murder: SP statement
Udupi District Superintendent of Police Dr. K. Arun stated that the arrested individuals confessed during interrogation that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the murder of Suhas Shetty, which occurred recently in the jurisdiction of Bajpe Police Station in Dakshina Kannada district.
The investigation is ongoing, and the arrested individuals will be presented before a court.
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Maihar (MP) (PTI): A traffic policeman suffered severe burn injuries in Madhya Pradesh's Maihar district on Friday after his uniform caught fire during Congress' effigy-burning protest targeted at some ministers, prompting the police to file an FIR and launch an investigation into the incident, an official said.
The protest took place at Agrasen Tiraha in Maihar city, he said.
Traffic policeman, Vikram Pathak, who was on duty at that time, suffered severe burn injuries as petrol carried in a bottle by the protesters fell on his uniform and it caught fire.
Congress workers were burning an effigy while raising slogans against state ministers Rajendra Shukla (Health), Vijay Shah (Tribal Affairs), and Kailash Vijayvargiya (Parliamentary Affairs).
While the opposition party has been targeting Shah for his controversial remarks made last year against Col Sofia Qureshi, it has been demanding the resignations of Shukla and Vijayvargiya over the deaths of people due to contaminated water in Indore.
As the protesters tried to set the effigy on fire, petrol got sprinkled on Pathak's uniform, and it caught fire. The blaze quickly spread to his back and lower body, causing panic during the protest, eyewitnesses said.
A video of the incident also went viral, showing a stampede-like situation soon after the fire.
The police personnel and locals present at the scene acted swiftly and extinguished the fire using blankets and water. The injured traffic policeman was immediately taken to Maihar Civil Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment, the official said.
Doctors said he suffered severe burn injuries, but is out of danger.
Taking serious cognisance of the matter, the police launched an investigation, he said.
An FIR has been registered based on the video footage, and the role of those involved in the protest is being investigated, the official said.
Police are also investigating the circumstances under which flammable material was used during the effigy- burning protest.
Following the accident, additional police force was deployed at the protest site and the surrounding area.
Superintendent of Police Awadhesh Kumar and Collector Rani Batad described the incident as serious and assured strict action against those involved in it.
"A demonstration was being carried out by the Congress, and during the effigy-burning, some petrol was spilled on the uniform of Vikram Pathak, the in-charge on duty, after which it suddenly caught fire and caused burn injuries to him," SP Kumar said.
An investigation is being conducted on the basis of the video, he said.
Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal said in Bhopal, "I have spoken to the policeman and offered my prayers. There is a way to protest. Whatever happened is not right.
