Nabbing rowdies is not enough, punish their leaders too: Khader tells top cop

Mangaluru, Aug 26: Slamming communal outfits and its leaders for misleading youths and encouraging immoral rowdyism in coastal Karnataka, Congress leader U T Khader urged the Mangaluru city police to take stringent action against those to disrupt peace in the society.

The health and family welfare minister told Coastaldidgiest.com that he spoke twice to Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Dr S Murugan after the brutal assault on a youth by Bajrang Dal miscreants in the heart of the city on Monday and urged him to take action against the gang leader of the assailants.

“Police have arrested over a dozen accused in connection with the assault. But this is not sufficient. Cops should nab their leaders too and teach them a lesson,” said Mr Khader.

He said that in the past the name of Murguan was creating terror in the hearts of the criminals and antisocial elements. “Now, the same Murugan is the top cop of Mangaluru. He should exhibit his efficiency by teaching a lesson to criminals and anti-social elements,” he said.

Lobo visits victim

Meanwhile, Mangaluru City (South) MLA J R Lobo visited the assault victim, who is recuperating at a private hospital in the city and assured him justice.

He said the police had been instructed to take stringent action against the perpetrators of crime.

Such incidents would not only defame the name of Mangaluru, but would also affect the cordial relations among different communities in the region, he said. It is unfortunate that such incidents were taking place in the district which is known as an “educated” district, Mr. Lobo said.

A 28-year-old Muslim youth working for supermarket at Attavar in the city was on Monday evening stripped, tied to an electric pole and beaten by a group of miscreants belonging to Sangh Parivar for allegedly being in company of his female colleague belonging to Hindu community.

Mangaluru police have arrested at least 13 persons in connection with the incident. They are Santhosh Poojary (23) of Padu Kudeera in Karkala taluk, Abhiram (23) of Babugudde, Kiran (29) of Hunasemakki, Praveen Shetty of Eligoli in Karkala, Bhujanga Shetty (46) of Siddakatte, Chandrakanth Rao (42) of Bejai, Ghanashyam Acharya (24) of Attavar Jain compound, Dhanush (20), Muthuraj (21), Kishan (20) of Babugudde, Naveen (42) of Melinamogaru, Vivek (38) of Babugudde and Kirankumar (25) of Attavar. All accused were remanded in judicial custody.