Tension prevailed in Shivamogga city following two isolated incidents of assault on a Hindutva activist and a murder of a private hospital employee on Monday night. The incidents forced the district police to deploy policemen in sensitive areas and set up check-posts to avoid any untoward incidents in the city. In all, six people were arrested in connection with the cases.
Prakash, 25, was assaulted by a group of people at Bharamappa Nagar in the city around 11.30 p.m. on Monday. The attackers, who came on bikes, threw stones and fled from the place. Prakash, who has been actively involved in Hindutva groups, suffered head injuries. His relatives rushed him to McGann Hospital, where he is recovering. The attackers had also passed comments on Praveen, another activist, and at the public at Seegehatti.
On Tuesday morning, Vijay, 37, who worked in a private hospital, was found murdered at Venkatesha Nagar. It is said that he had gone out of his residence after receiving a call.
Senior police officers, including Shivamogga Superintendent of Police G.K. Mithun Kumar visited both places. A preliminary investigation revealed that the two incidents were not connected. The Superintendent of Police formed teams of officers to probe the cases. By evening, the police arrested three persons each in connection with both the cases.
Similarly, the police arrested three people in connection with the murder of Vijay. The Superintendent of Police said, “This act seems to be a murder for gain. All the arrested have a history of being involved in robbery”. CCTV camera footage related to the incident helped police nab the accused.Mr. Mithun Kumar told the media that Market Fouzan, 25, Azhar alias Azzu, 24, and Faraz, 21, — all residents of the city, were arrested in connection with the assault on Prakash. All of them had a history of being involved in criminal activities. Market Fouzan had five cases against him, Azhar had three, and Faraz had four cases.
The three accused, along with two more people who are absconding, visited Seegehatti and Bharamappa Nagar localities. They passed comments against Praveen at Seegehatti and later attacked Prakash at Bharamappa Nagar. “A few days ago, Praveen and Prakash had picked up a quarrel with the accused. In retaliation, the accused went to warn the two people,” the Superintendent of Police said.
Mr. Mithun Kumar appealed to the people not to panic and said the police had taken steps to arrest the accused and ensure peace and order in the city. Policemen had been deployed in sensitive areas and check-posts would be active throughout the day to avoid untoward incidents, he added.
