Shringeri shoot-out : Driver Pramod says Kabeer had tried to stone ANF personnel

Shringeri shoot-out : Driver Pramod says Kabeer had tried to stone ANF personnel

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 26, 2014:  Pramod Poojary, the driver of the pick-up vehicle transporting cattle when the Kabeer shoot-out incident took place, has narrated the incident before media men and has claimed that Kabeer’s trying to attack the ANF personnel with  stones  had made the ANF commandos fire at him resulting in his death.

According to Pramod, Kabeer  began to shout and tried to hurl stones at the ANF men when they opened fire. He says though he was a driver to the cattle transportation vehicle, along with Kabeer and Badruddin of Jokatte in the past,  he had stopped doing so after marriage two and a half years ago. Still, Rafique had called him on April 18 asking to accompany them as driver to their Xylo vehicle. He says when they reached Hosur the next day a pick-up vehicle with over 20  cattle was kept ready and he was asked to drive the vehicle.

Pramod says when he hesitated, Rafique assured to drive the vehicle after the checkpost was crossed. He says they crossed the Agumbe Hosur check-post after paying the usual Rs 2500 to the cops there, but were surprised to see ANF men instead of the usual cops at the Tanikodu check-post. Sensing danger, Rafique escaped   while, he along with Sarfaraz and another person too fled. Kabeer who was in the vehicle, on  seeing the ANF men  came out, began to shout and  picked up a stone to hurl at ANF men who suspecting him to be a Naxal fired at him, said Pramod.” I was however not hurt by the second bullet as a lorry was nearby,”says Pramod.

He later came to Mangalore when he says MLA Moidin Bava summoned him and asked him to say that the firing was done at point blank range. “Bava forcibly made me appear before the media earlier,” Pramod said.

He says he was now receiving threatening calls and has sought protection.