The police have arrested four people said to be associated with the Sri Rama Sene and also the Bajrang Dal for their alleged involvement in the assault on the night of January 3 on Bashir, 47, the owner of an eatery, here.
This incident had taken place following the murder of Bajrang Dal activist and BJP worker Deepak Rao at Katipalla, near here, on the same day. The arrested persons have reportedly admitted before the police that the assault was an “act of revenge” to Rao’s murder.
Mr. Bashir, who is in a critical condition, was attacked by a group of persons just when he was closing his fast-food outlet at Kottara Chowki. Shekar, driver of an ambulance, saw an injured Mr. Bashir lying on the ground and shifted him to a nearby private hospital. The same day, Mohammed Mubashir, 22, a resident of Bunder, was also attacked at Katipalla when he was returning from the wedding of a relative.
Police Commissioner T.R. Suresh gave the names of the arrested persons as Shrijit P.K., 25, of Kasaragod, Kerala; Kishan Poojary, 21; Dhanush Poojary, 22; and Sandesh Kotian, 22, of Kasaragod.
Mr. Suresh told reporters that Mr. Bashir was attacked when a few customers were having dinner at the outlet while some people were standing outside. The police have gathered CCTV camera footage and are questioning customers and a few onlookers, to find other persons involved in the attack. Mr. Basheer’s brother Latheef has filed a police complaint.
Ruling out past enmity between the arrested persons and Mr. Bashir, Mr. Suresh said the accused had come to participate in a religious festival at Garodi on January 3. After hearing of Rao’s murder, they planned the assault on Mr. Bashir. The sharp weapons used for the assault were taken from the house of Dhanush, he said.
While the arrested persons have told the police of their association with the Sri Rama Sene and the Bajrang Dal, Mr. Suresh said they were verifying their claims.
Shrijit has been involved in six cases of rioting registered in Kasaragod and a criminal case in Ullal. Kishan was accused in three criminal cases. While Sandesh was an accused in a case at Badiyadka, Kerala, he was also an accused in a case of assault of a youth at Adyar on July 6 when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was in Mangaluru to attend a Congress convention.
