Youth’s complaint: assault by 20 people in groups

Mangalore Today News Network

Sullia, Oct 6, 2016: A youth complained with Sullia police, accusing 20 persons of assaulting him, by waylaying a bus in which he was travelling and spreading rumours against him through social media. In his complaint, A K Mohammed Haneef said that he had boarded a bus at Sullia at 9.30 pm on October 3, to travel to Bengaluru. As only the three seats were vacant, he took a seat next to a woman. When the bus reached Kallugundi, about 20 persons, including Sudha, an auto driver, and Dinu, who works at a hotel, stopped the bus and entered.

The group demanded Haneef’s name and place. They also used filthy language and termed him a terrorist. It was only when they asked the girl who was sitting next to him that they realised that Haneef did not have any relationship with the girl and they left the bus. When the bus reached Madikeri, Haneef alighted from the bus to attend nature’s call, when another group of 20 to 25 persons attempted to assault him.

Haneef now approached the Madikeri police, who, confirmed that he had no relation with the girl and dispersed the group. By then, however the bus in which Haneef was to travelling had left the bus station and the youth returned to Sullia. The miscreants had even spread rumours about Haneef by posting his photo on the Facebook page of Jai Sri Ram.

The police have filed cases against Sudha, Dinu and others under IPC Section 341 (Punishment for Wrongful Restraint), 143 (Whoever is a member of an unlawful assembly), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 298 (Uttering, words, etc, with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person), and 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed).