Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Jan 14: A businessman's car was intercepted by a gang, he was dragged out of car and attacked with lethal weapons. His car was also badly damaged. This happened at Kundachchagiri in Volamogru village near Kumbra on the night of Tuesday January 12.

The injured person, identified as Muhammed Rafiq, son of timber merchant, K P Hasan from Neerpady in Volamogru village, got admitted into a hospital at Mangaluru. The attackers had left him lying unconscious by the roadside, and some locals took him to Puttur hospital from where he was referred to the hospital at Mangaluru.

It is gathered that the attack was pre-planned on account of existing enmity. Political differences which arose between different groups during the gram panchayat election are said to have given rise to hatred between the groups.

When the car carrying Rafiq, who was returning in Innova car at around 11 pm on Tuesday after attending the marriage function of a friend at Kasargod, the accused, who were waiting for him, intercepted his vehicle by placing a Maruti Swift car across the road at Kundachchagiri. They then dragged our Rafiq and hit him indiscriminately with bats and wickets. It is said that they fled after snatching away Rs 60,000 he had in his possession.

A complaint about the incident was filed in Sampya rural police station. The accused attackers have been identified as Salam Kumbra, Rafiq Kadtimar, Asif Kadtimar, Latif, Yousuf, Alangoor Addu, Batisha Kumbra, Shaqir Kumbra, Ashiq M K Ummer Farooq Kadtimar and Nasir Kumbra. All of them face attempt to murder case.

Out of the accused, Farooq Kadtimar was arrested and produced in the court on Wednesday, after which he was remanded to judicial custody. The other accused are absconding, and the police are searching for them.