Udupi: Tension Prevails in Padubidri following attack on Bajrang Dal Activists

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD) -
Pics - RK Durga Digitals

Udupi, Oct 29: Convener  of  Padubidri unit of Bajrang Dal Padebettu Prakash Shetty (38) and activist Lokesh were assaulted by some miscreants at Padubidri on Sunday October 28 night. They were critically injured as a result of the assault and were admitted to Adarsh Hospital here.  Later reports said that their health condition was stable and that they were out of danger.

Tension prevailed in Padubidri and surrounding areas on Monday following the attack on the Hindu organization's leader.  Most of the shops and business concerns downed their shutters on Monday and tight police security was deployed in the town to meet any unwaranted situation.

What exactly happened:

Lokesh and Prakash Shetty were on their way home on former’s bike on Sunday night when they were intercepted at Padebettu junction by unknown miscreants.  They covered Padubidri – Karkala route and arrived at Padebettu junction when they saw that some people busy repairing a motor cycle in the middle of the road.  As Lokesh slowed down to help them, one among them hit Lokesh on his head with an iron rod.

Others who were busy repairing the bike joined in assaulting Lokesh and Prakash, in the midst of their screams of pain.  The miscreants who were acting as if they were attending to repair their motorcycles assaulted both Bajrang Dal activists and escaped in their motorcycles, leaving both Lokesh and Prakash on the ground on the assumption that they were dead.

It is believed that there were 6 people involved in assaulting the Bajrang Dal activists. The electricity shutdown between 8-10 pm and 9-10 pm regularly over the past days in the locality of Padubidri helped them in concealing their identity.

It was known that there were two motor cycles, one Bajaj Pulsar and the other Hero Honda CT-100 used by the miscreants. While one rode towards Padebettu, the other sped towards Kanchinadka, soon after the assault in the dark.

Lokesh, on receiving the first blow on his head, ran towards neighbouring houses and pleaded the residents to convey the message to the police before reaching NH 17 to catch an auto rickshaw. However, none of the drivers came forward to take them to the hospital initially.  At last, he conveyed the message to Padubidri police through the coin booth. And the police managed to admit them in Siddi Vinayaka Clinic where they were given first aid and transferred to Adarsh Hospital in the city.

As soon as the news spread in the locality, hundreds of people gathered at the hospital on Sunday where they were admitted. 

ASP Laboo Ram visited the spot and expressed confidence in arresting the alleged miscreants.  Circle inspector Praveen Naik, Padubidri SI Navinchandra Jogi, Kaup SI Shivanand Valikar have initiated the probe in this regard.

The district unit of Sri Rama Sene, Bajrang Dal and VHP units of Padubidri, Hejamady, Tenka Yermal, have condemned the attack and demanded that the culprits be brought to book.