Pareekshith Shet

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 2: Irked by the fact that a youth was speaking to a girl belonging to a religion that is different from his own, a gang launched deadly assault on him, leaving him badly injured and bruised. The incident occurred at St Mary Church at Shirva on the evening of Wednesday February 1 during the annual festival there.

A resident of Katapadi near here, identified as Chetan (21), was the victim of this incident. It is said that Chetan and a Muslim girl from his village are in love with each other since the last about two years. The family members of the girl, who came to know about the mutual love, took umbrage at this relation, and warned the girl against continuing with her affair with the youth, it is said. Still, the youngsters continued to meet each other.

The two came face to face at St Mary's feast at the church on Wednesday. Chetan was chatting with the girl and some of his friends when two youth suddenly assaulted him. Chetan responded by hitting back. Immediately, about 15 young men belonging to the girl's religion came together, dragged Chetan away, and launched murderous attack on him with rods, sharp wooden pieces etc, leaving him bleeding in the back of his head and entire body. They also kicked him around before dumping him near the giant wheel operating nearby, it is learnt.

The friends of Chetan, who remained mute witnesses to the ordeal of their friend, later took him to the district government hospital at Ajjarkad where he is being treated.

A case relating to this incident was registered in Shirva police station. Police are investigating the case.