Karnataka - Mangalore

Bandh observed in protest against attack

MANGALORE: Traders on B.C. Road near here observed a bandh on Wednesday following an assault on Shekar Kulal, a flower merchant, in the early hours of the day.

A group of four masked men, who reportedly came on two motorcycles, inflicted wounds on Mr. Kulal with sharp-edged weapons.

Mr. Kulal, who was admitted to a private hospital here, is recovering, the police said.

The police authorities made massive bandobast arrangements in the wake of the incident. Five platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police were rushed to the area and deployed.

The police authorities have also set up special investigating teams comprising five inspectors and 10 sub-inspectors in an effort to nab the accused, according to Harsha P.S., Assistant Superintendent of Police, Puttur sub-division.Dr. Harsha told The Hindu that the incident took place around 5.15 a.m. at the B.C. Road bus stand.

“We are following on all the leads available to us from the crime scene,” he said.

While the shops and establishments were closed, the incident did not have any impact on vehicles passing through B.C. Road, he said. Police personnel had been deployed in all vantage locations to prevent any law and order situation, he said.

In a related development, leaders of some groups demanded that the accused be nabbed at the earliest.

Although, a few people who attended a meeting called in this regard wanted to enforce a Bantwal taluk bandh to protest the incident, they gave up the idea in view of inconvenience it would cause to people.

The police are waiting for Mr. Kulal to regain consciousness so they could question him to gain more leads, Dr. Harsha said.

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