The Bantwal Town police on Thursday arrested in Puttur a Hindu Jagarana Vedike activist Ratnakar Shetty, who is accused of assaulting a Muslim youth in Kalladka on June 13. A reported glare by Ibrahim Khaleel on Ratnakar Shetty led to heated exchange of words between the two that led to both stabbing each other on June 13. This led to a clash between the two communities that was followed by two murders in Bantwal. This led to a prolonged imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code.
Ibrahim Khaleel filed a complaint against Ratnakar while a counter compliant was filed by the latter. Both the complaints were registered by Bantwal Town Police under Section 307 of Indian Penal Code.
Superintendent of Police C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy said that while Ibrahim Khaleel was arrested a few days after the incident, Ratnakar Shetty could not be arrested as he was undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Puttur.
Mr. Reddy said that on a request from the police, Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha constituted a medical board a few days ago to look into the health condition of Ratnakar Shetty. Before the medical board could visit the hospital, Ratnakar Shetty was discharged.
A team of Bantwal Town Police went to the hospital and arrested Ratnakar Shetty on Thursday evening. He was produced before the local magistrate, Mr. Reddy said.
