An uneasy calm prevailed in the areas between Mangaluru and Kalladka after an activist of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) was hacked to death at Benjanapadavu on the outskirts of the city, in Bantwal taluk on Wednesday.
The incident triggered stone-throwing in Farangipet, BC Road and Kalladka, forcing shops and business establishments along National Highway 75 to shut down.
According to sources, Ahraf Kalayi, 35, autorickshaw driver and president of SDPI’s Ammnje unit in Bantwal taluk, had participated in the party’s foundation day programme at Kalayi village before he was killed in the afternoon. After the programme, he assisted some people in filling potholes on a road at Kalayi. Later, he left the village in his autorickshaw with his friend Seenappa Poojary to collect beedis. While they were returning, a group of six men who came on two motorcycles waylaid them near an engineering college at Benjanpadavu.
When Ashraf and Poojary stopped the autorickshaw and started to run, the assailants gave them a chase. They hit Ashraf on the head with a machete, and he died on the spot, according to police sources.
The miscreants then fled in their motorcycles.
As the incident resulted in stone-throwing along the highway, the police went on rounds in Benjanpadavu asking people to remain indoors. Later, at about 5 p.m., a private bus was stoned in Kana near Surathkal reportedly by two motorcycle-borne men. There were no injuries.
Talking to reporters in Bantwal, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) P. Harishekaran said that the police were working on some clues about the accused. Five police teams have been formed to trace them. The police have recovered the machete used to murder Ashraf, he added.
Mr. Harishekaran said that additional police force has been deployed to maintain peace in Dakshina Kannada. The police will book those carrying sharp weapons. While seeking cooperation from the people in maintaining peace in the region, Mr. Harishekaran said that representatives from two communities should meet him.
