Mangalore: Picnickers from Bolar assaulted by forest official near Madikeri

Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Jan 27: A group of picnickers from Bolar here was allegedly assaulted by a forest official and the locals at Dubare elephant camp near Madikeri of Kodagu district on Sunday January 26.

The group returned to the city on Monday January 27 and the injured among them were admitted to Wenlock hospital.

Shobha, a resident of Bolar had organized an outing for a group of Bolar residents, family and friends to Madikeri. The group, consisting of about 40 persons, left for Madikeri on Saturday January 25 night.

After touring around Madikeri, they went to Dubare elephant camp on Sunday at around 3.30 pm.

It is said that the children and youngsters among the group were playing in the water when a forest official, identified as Chi Subramanya, came towards and ordered them to get out of the water. The picnickers replied that it was not a prohibited area and there was no board or sign preventing them from swimming. They also said that they were playing near the banks where the water was not shallow.

At this, the officials reportedly lost temper and demanded to know where the group had come from. When they replied that they were from Mangalore, he allegedly abused them saying, "Don't show your Mangalore goondaism here" and such other words.

He also dared them to come out of the water and threatened to teach them a lesson, it is said. The group members claimed that he seemed inebriated.

After a few minutes, the official returned with a group of around 20 locals and allegedly thrashed the picnickers with sticks. Shobha alleged that officer pushed her when she questioned him about his behaviour.

A complaint was filed against the officials and the locals in Madikeri police station.

The Bolar group returned to Mangalore on Monday and those who were injured were admitted to Wenlock hospital. Some of them sustained serious injuries, said sources.

Speaking to daijiworld, Shobha said that the residents of Bolar go on picnics annually, and last year they had been to Shirdi. She also said that this was the fourth incident where Mangaloreans were abused in Madikeri without any apparent reason.

Pawan, one of the injured, said that during the scuffle someone stole his gold chain weighing one-and-a-half sovereigns.

Among the others injured is Sawan, a  mechanical engineer working in Mumbai.

The group members also said that a person who was recording the incident on camera was also thrashed and his camera broken.