Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Aug 29: The police have rounded up 18 persons on charges of assaulting four pilgrims who were returning in a car from Dharmasthala to Bangalore near Gundya forest gate.
On the night of Wednesday August 27, a pedestrian named Subba (50) from Addahole Pollotu Mane was injured after a vehicle hit him. The vehicle sped away from the scene. When the people gathered on the spot, they saw a speeding car moving towards Bangalore, which did not stop when people tried to intercept it. They telephoned Gundya check-post and asked the car to be held up there. The locals and a group of pilgrims from Subrahmanya then beat up the passengers of the car and even damaged the car.
Rajesh, Ratan, Kiran and Amit from Bangalore, who were in the car, were injured. Amit is recovering in a Sakleshpur hospital while others are being treated at a Puttur hospital. The injured are said to be relatives of a legislator from Bangalore. On a complaint filed by the injured, alleging that they were assaulted and robbed of golden bracelet, ring, mobile phone etc., the police have arrested 18 persons.
Out of the arrested, 15 are from Shiradi and the other three, from Addahole. The villagers said that they were angered as the pilgrims tried to get away without even bothering to stop to enquire about the injured pedestrian. They added that the policemen have arrested even the onlookers.
Sullia circle inspector Lingappa Poojary is heading the investigations. It is learnt that the Dakshina Kannada superintendent of police has asked the policemen to take action as necessary, after taking into account all the aspects.
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