Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jan 18: Clashes erupted between two groups at Faisalnagar near Padil here late night on Sunday January 17, resulting in stone-pelting and damage to houses and vehicles.
The clashes soon took a communal turn and stones were pelted at houses, and bikes and houses damaged.
It is alleged that a group of persons of a community returning from a programme caught hold of a man who works in a mosque and who was walking near Padil-Bajal railway underbridge, and started abusing him for no apparent reason. A youth who was passing by tried to intervene, and he too was allegedly assaulted by the group. They also assaulted another person who was at the spot. Meanwhile, the person they had assaulted first managed to escape.
Soon after, in retaliation, a group of about eight persons of a community allegedly barged into houses in Faisalnagar and created havoc. They also pelted stones and damaged property.
Five complaints were lodged against the group of vandals. Savitri in her complaint said that eight people barged into her house and damaged property worth Rs 10,000. In another complaint, Sujata stated that the same group entered her house and damaged her Alto car, causing loss worth Rs 1 lac. Also, the group damaged a car and a Honda Activa belonging to one Deekshith.
Sources also said that the group entered the house of an elderly lady and manhandled her.
Mangaluru rural police arrived at the spot and took control of the situation. Tight security has been deployed at the spot.
Sharfuddin and Sirajuddin who were assaulted near the Padil railway underbridge, along with Shaan, driver of a bus, Swastik, Sushant, Keerthiraj, Niranjan and Deekshith were injured in the incident and admitted to hospital. Sharfuddin claimed that the assault was carried out by a person named Raja who was known to him and that his group consisting of about 15-20 persons came armed with weapons in bikes and a car.
Sources said that three persons have been arrested, but the police did not confirm the same.
Mangaluru rural police have registered a case and investigations are on.