Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Apr 20: In an incident which took place on Monday, April 20, a driver employed at Bantwal municipal council, Veerappa K, was allegedly assaulted when he asked a shopkeeper to close down his shop.

The driver, along with Bantwal environment inspector and Bantwal rural police station staff, were on their way to work when the incident occurred. While they approached Barekadu, Kasba village, the found a shop belonging to a vendor by name Rafik was open around 1 pm with about eight to ten people around the shop.

As the officials noticed the citizens defying the lockdown and social distancing norms, immediately objected and asked the vendor to close down the shop. When asked to do so, one of the persons in the group allegedly held the collar of the driver and threatened of death to the driver. Police had to intervene and stop the fight.

Rafik, aged 48, resident of Barekadu, was confirmed to be the owner of the shop while the person who held the collar was identified to be a person by name Khader, others identified in the group were Hanif, Badru, Harris, Imtiaz, and Rehmatlu. A case has been registered under IPC sections 143, 147, 149, 269, 270, 353, and 506 in Bantwal town police station and charged offences of obstructing government service while on duty.