Vigilante attack triggers communal tensions in Kalladka

Bantwal, Jul 3: A fresh vigilante attack by a group of Sangh Parivar activists on a Muslim youth, who had accompanied his Hindu friend and his sister to the communally sensitive town of Kalladka in Bantwal taluk, once again triggered communal tensions in the region.

Khasim Rahim from Gauribidanur in Chikkaballapur district has sustained severe injuries when he was dragged out of an auto-rickshaw and assaulted by a group of three members owing allegiance to Sangh Parivar in Kalladka.

The accused have been identified as Vishwanath, Vijeth and Shivaraj, all said to be local residents.

Sleuths attached to Bantwal Town Police Station have managed to arrest three miscreants in connection with the fresh episode of so called moral policing.

According to sources, Khasim Rahim's friend Kiran, who is currently residing in Bangalore, had asked him to accompany him and his sister Ankita to Kalladka.

In fact Ankita was supposed to visit her alma mater in Kalladka to collect her certificates and other documents. Ankita had requested his brother Kiran to accompany her. Kiran, who had no clue about the consequences, also fetched his Muslim friend to Kalladka.

A few communal thugs, who could not tolerate the presence of a Muslim youth with a Hindu boy and a Hindu girl, forced the trio to alight from the bus near Kalladka town.

When people began to gather, police intervened to bring the situation under control and asked the trio to visit Bantwal Town Police Station located at B C Road.

It is learnt that when the three people were travelling towards the station by an auto-rickshaw as per the order of the police, a group of three miscreants waylaid them at K C Road near Kalladka.

The group pulled Khasim Rahim from the rickshaw and assaulted without any provocation. Following the incident, the injured youth lodged a complaint against the assailants.