by Inchara—Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD)

Udupi, Jan 2: A head constable was killed in clashes with miscreants during New Year celebrations in Katpady town on Sunday January 1.

The deceased has been identified as 53-year-old Yogish Padakannaya, a native of Mangalore, who was serving as head constable at Katpady outpost.

A musical concert was organized by Adarsh Youth Club, Katpady, in front of Papillion Bar on the Katpady–Shirva Road on Sunday evening.  Despite the police issuing guidelines to conclude the programme by 11.00 pm, the musical concert continued.  When the policemen intervened, the local youth began abusing them verbally and pelted stones.  Padakannaya was critically injured when a stone hit him on his head.  In spite being admitted to the Government Hospital, he breathed his last due to excessive loss of blood.

The police arrested many youth including the musical concert organizers Raviprakash Acharya, Wilfred Oswald D’Mello, Sudhakar Salian, Santosh, Vijayaraj Moodubelle, and Edwyn Louis Fernandes.

Kaup police sub-inspector Mohan Kottari registered a case in this regard and has taken up further investigations.

SP Dr Ravi Kumar, ASP Venkateshappa, DySP Jayant Shetty, and Santosh Kumar offered state honour to the deceased policeman during the ceremony held at Chandu Maidan, on Monday January 2.

Adarsh youth Club, has been staging cultural programmes every year near the Katpady – Shirva main road and a large number of people gather to view the programme. This leads to traffic bottlenecks along the road.  The police stationed at Katpady outpost had to provide security during the programme.  It’s common to have rows between motorists and the general public. Following the death, the locals have urged the police not to allow any public programmes to be held at the venue.