Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)

Kaup, Oct 26: In connection with an incident in which two groups fought over the issue of presidentship of Katpadi mosque management committee on Wednesday October 25, and a revolver was also used to intimidate others, the Kaup police arrested four persons on Thursday October 25.

The arrested persons, who reportedly belong to two groups which clashed with each other, have been identified as Abdul Hameed, Muhammed, Saleem Malik, and Akbar.

An extraordinary general body meeting of the mosque had been organized in the hall of the mosque on Wednesday for the purpose of replacing the previous management committee of the mosque and elect a new committee in its place. It is said that during discussions, differences arose on the suggestion of electing a single person to chair both the management and development committees of the mosque.

During the discussions, it is said, one of the persons present, Akbar Muhammed Beary, suggested to the president to elect members by holding election rather than making nominations. Members like Imthiaz, Akbar, Saleem Malik and Sultan reportedly objected to his suggestion and suddenly assaulted him. When Anwar Hussain and Rafiq tried to come to the rescue of Beary, the accused also badly beat them up, it is said. Reportedly, Lathif, Shafi Ismail, Abdul Razak, Imthiaz, Abdul Hameed and others came from behind and hit Akbar Muhammed Beary, Anwar Hussain, and Rafiq.

Hameed went out of the mosque at this juncture, picked up revolver from his car, and came into the hall. Akbar snatched his revolver and pointed it towards Akbar Muhammed Beary for murdering him, but is said that some members of the Jamaat tried to stop him. At that time, the bullet missed its target and it was fired in the air, it is said. Hameed has also been accused of bringing in a sword from the boot of the car for attacking others.

Chairs, swords, revolver etc were used during the pitched battle between the two warring groups. Akbar Muhammed Beary, Anwar, and Anwar Hussain, suffered injuries and got admitted into the district hospital at Udupi.

On the basis of complaint filed by Akbar Muhammed Beary, Kaup police have registered a case. Investigation is progressing.