Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Oct 20: Verbal frictions had recently occurred over the issue of evicting a petty shop six months back at Kantadka in Ukkuda Darbe. Even as leaders were trying to manage the situation that looked like waiting to turn explosive anytime, a 11-member gang attacked Selvaraj (45). Selvaraj, who is from Tamil Nadu, works for a stone quarry. This incident occurred on Sunday.

A complaint stands lodged in Vittal police station by Selvaraj and a former member of Alike gram panchayat in this respect. In the complaint, they have alleged that murder attempt and rape attempt were made by a gang of people comprising Farooq, Gas Hameed, Rajhik, Ibrahim, Aris , Kantadka Shariff, Muhammed Mustafa, Shaffi, Ubail Kantadka, Bilal, Jubair, and others.

Relating to the incident, Shariff from the other side got admitted into a private hospital at Puttur on Monday and lodged a complaint of assault against Selvaraj, Kuppeswamy, Kannan, Jaya, and ten others.

Some petty shops were functioning in the past near a pond at Kantadka, but this place soon developed into a spot where clashes erupted often between two gangs. As it became communally sensitive area, Alike gram panchayat decided to evict these petty shops and took action to implement this decision.

When a sick person sought permission sometime back to run a mobile shop at this spot, the panchayat permitted him to do so on humanitarian grounds. Six months ago, this person handed over his shop to someone else, after which the other person began temporary construction there. This was objected to by people of another gang, after which the panchayat asked the concerned vacate the place. Selvaraj and a crowd were engaged in verbal altercation on this issue.

To strike a truce between the warring groups, on Sunday, gram panchayat president, Padmanabha Poojary, and former president, Kana Eshwar Bhat, with the support of some locals, began discussions on this issue with the two groups. When the discussions had almost concluded, suddenly a gang of 11 attacked Selvaraj. Those who had come to conciliate intervened and stopped the fight that would have turned worse.

Assistant superintendent of police from here, Rahul Kumar, police circle inspector, Belliappa K U, Vittal police sub-inspector, Prakash Devadiga and other personnel rushed to the spot and controlled the situation.