Two held for assaulting farmer, driver while transporting oxen in Moodbidri taluk

Two held for assaulting farmer, driver while transporting oxen in Moodbidri taluk

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 31, 2025: The Mangaluru City police have arrested two persons, said to be associated with right-wing groups, on the charge of assaulting a farmer and the driver of a pick-up vehicle in which an oxen was being transported on Friday.

The incident occurred on Friday evening in Kantavara Cross of Beluvai village in Moodbidri taluk, which is about 8 km away from Moodbidri police station. The police identified the arrested as Sudheer Shetty Kadndale and Dhanraj alias Dhanu. 

In the complaint to police, 56-year-old farmer Koosu Poojary said he rears cattle in his farm in Karinje village in Bantwal taluk. He and the driver, Abdul Rehman, were assaulted when bringing an oxen from Ajekar in Karkala taluk of Udupi district in the vehicle Mr. Rehman is from Sangabettu village of Bantwal taluk.

The vehicle was waylaid around 4.15 p.m. near Kantavara Cross by nine persons who had come in two vehicles. Suspected to be from right-wing groups, the accused abused the farmer and the driver before assaulting them. They also damaged the windshield of their vehicle.

The Moodbidri police registered a complaint for offences punishable under sections 109 (Attempt to murder), 189 (2) (Unlawful assembly), 191 (2), 191 (3) (Rioting), 126 (2) (Wrongful restraint), 324(4) (Mischief), 352 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 351(3) (Criminal intimidation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The police arrested two persons and are searching for the others involved in the incident.

Bajpe incident

This assault occurred a few hours after alleged Bajrang Dal activists stopped a vehicle near Suralpady Mosque that falls under Bajpe police station limits on Friday morning. The police intervened immediately and rescued 20 head of cattle. The police said there were no evidence of the accused firing at the activists who had chased the vehicle on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, the Mangaluru East police on Saturday arrested Jayaprakash in connection with assaulting a person transporting beef near Kadri temple on March 10.

Check-posts set up

To check illegal transportation of cattle and also attempts by right-wing activists to take the law in their hands, the city police have setup 20 check-posts across Mangaluru, said a senior city police official said.