Daijiworld Media Network - Haveri (SP)
Haveri, Aug 20: In a comedy of errors that turned tragic at Malligar village in the outskirts of Hangal in Haveri district on Friday August 19, villagers armed with machetes and sickles waylaid city crime branch policemen from Bengaluru. In this incident, Rajshekhar, police sub-inspector of Basavanagudi police station Bengaluru suffered critical injuries and underwent 34 stitches. Two constables also have been inflicted with deep injuries.
Both Rajshekhar and two constables are being treated in Hangal taluk hospital. Relating to the attack, villagers, Manjunath Yellur and Manjunath Badrapur, stand arrested.
The local police had a role in this drama of sale of stolen vehicle. A villager, Manjunath Yellur, used to get frequent calls from Bengaluru, through which the caller repeatedly showed interest in the purchase of old or stolen cars. Even after Yellur told the caller repeatedly that he is not a dealer in cars, the calls continued. Frustrated by these calls, Manjunath approached the local police and told them about this problem.
The car in which police came
A police officer advised him to tell the caller that a stolen car was available, and invite the caller to personally see the car. The police also reportedly arranged for a old car. The local policemen and the villagers were not aware that the caller was Basavaraj, police sub-inspector of Basavanagudi station. As per this plan, Manjunath called the phone number and invited the concerned to visit his village to see stolen car.
CCB police from Bengaluru arrived at Malligar village in a private vehicle and inspected the car. They also test drove the car. When Manjunath wanted to know whether he liked the car, PSI Basavaraj came forward to handcuff Manjunath. Even as ten CCB police tried to arrest Manjunath, scuffle started, and a group of villagers armed with sharp weapons attacked the police. PSI tried to fire from his revolver, but Manjunath lifted his hand in time so that the bullet got fired in air. When the sub-inspector tried to wrest the revolver back, the pistol was snatched away and three bullets got ricocheted from the floor. The other policemen arrested the accused.
PSI Rajshekhar suffered serious injuries and his condition is stated to be critical. A case was registered in the local police station. Investigation is in progress.