HJV activist attacked by Bajrang Dal activists; set car on fire

Mangalore, Aug 30: Mayhem broke out on the streets at about 12.30 a.m. on Friday, when a mob of close to 50 activists belonging to Bajrang Dal converged near Kumpala Balakrishna Mandir and began pelting soda bottles at shops and houses in Kumpala.

Allegedly in a drunken stupor following Mosaru Kudike celebrations in the city, the mob fatally assaulted a member of Hindu Janjagruti Vedike with swords and bottles, and also destroyed his car by setting it on fire.

After midnight on Friday, Bajrang Dal activists from Kumpala converged near Balakrishna Mandir and began tearing down various religious banners and cut-outs. During this rampage, a nearby resident Praveen came out of his house to investigate the racket and cautioned the miscreants to immediately stop the rampage.

Outraged by this, the mob began pelting soda bottles at Praveen's house, causing damage to valuables in his house, and also assaulted his son.

Meanwhile, an alleged HJV activist Prakash alias Pakku who resided nearby, was returning home in his car when the Bajrang Dal activists waylaid him and attacked him brutally with swords and soda bottles. They even toppled his car, stuffed a flex banner inside it and set it on fire, thereby reducing the car to ashes.

Severely injured in the attack, Prakash fled to a house belonging to Manohar in search of help. But members of the gang followed him there and assaulted a woman named Kumuda who had come forward to help Prakash. The mob even followed him to another house where he was assaulted again with bottles.

When Prakash fell on the ground, the mob proceeded to destroy valuables after breaking in to Yashoda's house. As a small crowd began to gather at the spot, the mob fled from the scene. The injured were rushed to a private hospital in Deralakatte.

Fury of mob – for revenge

It is being rumoured that the cause of fury by the mob was to exact revenge upon HJV activists for the previous day's incident which took place during 'mosaru kudike' procession in Thokkottu.

In the tableaux belonging to Hindu Janjagruti Vedike in the procession, children dressed up for 'tiger dance' were slapped by two youth belonging to Bajrang Dal. Enraged by this, few HJV activists had a squabble with Bajrang Dal activists, and a clash ensued, which was soon settled.

It is said that the Bajrang Dal activists got into a drunken stupor following the celebrations and proceeded to cause havoc in Kumpala led by Kunta Ganesh. Several including Santhu, Sandeep, Shashi, Prashanth, Manish, Sanketh, Duggu, Dhanraj, Ranga Ganesh, Lailu and Jayaraj were part of the mob that caused havoc and assaulted Prakash.