Mangalore: Angered by report, gang attacks journalist

Daijiworld  Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 7: In a complaint filed at Suratkal police station on Wednesday February 6, Harish Putran, reporter of city-based Karavali Ale newspaper, alleged that a gang of miscreants had assaulted him. He said that the gang, allegedly belonging to Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) which had about ten members, fled after beating him up.

The incident reportedly occurred when Putran, after his duty hours in the newspaper office located in Kulai, was walking towards the nearby bus stand to board a bus to Mulky, where he resides. He said that the gang approached him all of a sudden, before assaulting him indiscriminately. Putran was left with serious injuries to his head and bruises and blood clots caused by the beating on his hands and legs.

The reporter is now recovering in a private hospital in Suratkal. Nataraj, inspector of Suratkal police station, visited him in the hospital to record his statement.

It is said that a report in the evening newspaper about Keshava, identified by the police as an accused in ganja trafficking, is close to Satyajit Suratkal, leader of Hindu Jagarana Vedike, and that there is a possibility that this assault is linked to that report.