Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Dec 11: Amidst claims that the Mangaluru rural police led by circle inspector Pramod Kumar had arrested the wrong person in connection to an assault case of last year in Ulaibettu, the complainant in the case on Friday December 11 came out in the open and claimed that there had been no mistake on the part of the police, and that the arrested person Abubakker Siddique was the actual accused.
Addressing a press meet here, Gangadhar, a resident of Ulaibettu, said, "We are hurt and stunned by media reports stating that Abubakker Siddique was innocent. Last year on December 5, while we were retuning by auto from a mehendi function, we were severely attacked at Ulaibettu junction. Abubakker and nearly 200 people armed with weapons attacked us. He is responsible for this incident.
"We were living in a tense situation, but after inspector Pramod Kumar took charge, peace has been restored in the area," he said.
The girl complainant in the case, who had alleged sexual harassment too, said, "Abubakker is not innocent. He was involved in the incident. He assaulted us with weapons and we suffered. I know that he is not innocent. I could identify him at the police station.
"While we were returning from the mehendi function, our auto rickshaw was stopped at Ulaibettu junction and we were attacked. I was shouting and asking for help. My brother also was beaten up," she claimed.
Regarding claims by Ulaibettu Nagarika Samiti that Abubakker was innocent, she said, "There was nothing called Nagarika Samiti till now. I do not know from where it has come. The Samiti has emerged just to protect Abubakker."
Manoj Kumar, another resident of Ulaibettu, said, "You can see many cases of assault and harassment in Mangaluru rural police limits. We need protection. The others accused in the case should also be arrested and peace should be restored."
Asked why there was delay in coming out in the open, Gangadhar said, "We had approached the police. We can only complain. We are the ones who suffered in the incident. We had brought the incident to the attention of the MLA also."
At this point, the girl added, "There was no statement from MLA (Mohiuddin Bava) when we were beaten up and when we suffered, but now he is giving statements that Abubakker is innocent."
It may be recalled that circle inspector Pramod Kumar had been allegedly sent on leave soon after he arrested Abubakker Siddique in the case. The cops of Mangaluru rural police as well as locals and some organizations had protested against the police department, alleging political pressure behind the move. Pramod joined back duty the next morning. On Thursday December 10, MLA Mohiuddin Bava claimed that Abubakker was an innocent as per his family's claims, and denied allegations that he had put pressure on the police to send Pramod on leave. The Ulaibettu Nagarika Samiti too claimed that the arrested Abubakker was not named in the FIR and that it was a case of 'mistaken identity'.