Belthangady: Jewellery shop manager booked for allegedly assaulting three students

Belthangady: Jewellery shop manager booked for allegedly assaulting three students

Mangalore Today News Network

Beltangady, December 17, 2025: Police have registered a case at the Belthangady police station following allegations that the manager of a jewellery shop and others assaulted three students near the town’s weekly market after questioning them about their religion.

The accused have been identified as Ashok Bangera, the manager of a jewellery shop near Santhekatte, along with other staff members. They have been booked under Sections 126(2) and 115(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The injured students are currently undergoing treatment at the Belthangady Government Hospital.

According to the complaint, three students from the Venoor area had taken a day off from school on Monday and arrived in Belthangady in the afternoon to visit the weekly market held every Monday. After spending some time in the town, the students sat near the jewellery shop at Santhekatte, playing games on their mobile phones.

At that point, the accused allegedly questioned the students about their names. Upon learning that they were Muslim, the complaint states that the accused abused them using derogatory religious remarks. It is further alleged that the students were confined in a room and assaulted.

The complaint also alleges that when the parents of the students approached the shop to question the assault, the manager and other staff members engaged in a heated argument with them and used abusive language.

During the incident, one of the students reportedly managed to escape and fled the scene, causing panic among family members when he could not be located. After a search lasting late into the night, the student was eventually traced and reunited with his parents.

All three injured students remain admitted to the Belthangady Government Hospital. Police recorded their statements at the hospital and formally registered the case on Tuesday.

Following the incident, SDPI leader Akhtar Belthangady visited the injured students at the hospital and enquired about their condition. Condemning the incident, he stated that the students were assaulted over a trivial issue after being questioned about their religion and demanded strict action against the accused.

Police have said that further investigation into the case is ongoing.