Court acquits 5 accused in Bajpe communal riots

Court acquits 5 accused in Bajpe communal riots

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, November 25: The District Principal Sessions Court has acquitted five persons, who were accused of attacking a group of people during the infamous Bajpe communal riots, which took place 4 years back.

Allegedly, miscreants had pelted stones on a procession bearing the image of Sharada Devi and a controversial tableau of Bappa Beary was arranged in front of the Bajpe mosque to the accompaniment of loud noise on Oct 1, 2006.

Pic: Sheni Gopalkrishna Bhat as Bappa Beary 

 

Vinaya Shetty, Preetham Hegde, and Vinayak Bhat had lodged a complaint with the Bajpe police station against Shahul Hameed, Nasir, K. P. Mohammed (Unni), Mohammed Basheer, Ibrahim, Mohammed Shareef, Siraj, and others, accusing them of attacking them near the Bajpe Mosque when they were travelling by car from Kateel. Accordingly, the police filed a charge sheet against the accused.

Following a prolonged hearing in court, H. R. Deshpande, the district sessions judge, acquitted K. P. Mohammed, Shahul Hameed, Nasir, Mohammed Basheer, and Mohammed Shareef on grounds that there is no proof for the charges leveled against them. Advocate K. P. Poojari, who argued on behalf of the accused, convinced the judge that the Sharada Devi procession was an attempt made to spoil communal harmony as those who participated in it were armed with sticks and bottles.

It may be recalled that this procession led to a district-wide communal riot.