Mudigere auto rickshaw driver assaulted for trivial reasons

Mudigere auto rickshaw driver assaulted for trivial reasons

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 29, 2012: An auto rickshaw driver from Mudigere has suffered severe spinal injuries after he was assaulted for a trivial reason.

The victim Moideen C. H. (42) lodged a complaint with the Mudigere police, on the basis of which they have registered a case against Sudhav Gatty, Sandesh Biligula, Sujith Halemudigere, and others, who assaulted him on Saturday for parking his vehicle in an inconvenient place.

The incident is believed to be communal in nature as the victim is a Muslim and those who assaulted him were Bajrang Dal members.

The victim was beaten up so badly that he is unable to talk and has lost hearing in one ear. He has been in a hospital in Kankanady for the past five days and the doctors say that he needs surgery as he has suffered severe spinal injuries. 

On Nov 22, two days before the assault, a man called Pradeep had objected to Moideen parking his vehicle at Banashankari in Mudigere. Moideen’s brother Ahmed Bava had tried to patch up matters and had taken him to Sudhev Gatty, the local leader of the Bajrang Dal, to find a solution to the problem peacefully. The meeting resulted in an assault on Moideen. Ahmed Bava, who tried to stop them, was also injured.

Moideen was first taken to a health centre in Mudigere, after which he was shifted to a hospital in Chikmagalur. Finally, he was brought to Kankanady. The doctor says that he needs to be in hospital for two more months.

Ayesha, the victim’s wife, is in tears. Stating that the sole bread winner of the family has been injured, she said that the assaulters must be arrested and punished at the earliest possible. 

The Auto Rickshaw Drivers’ Union protested in Mudigere demanding the arrest of the accused; however, the police have not arrested any of them so far.

On Nov 25 Sunday, Moideen’s brother Ahmed Bava lodged a complaint at the local police station. Ever since he lodged the complaint, he is being threatened. Shortly after he lodged his complaint, the accused lodged a counter complaint against him, in which they stated that he had assaulted a Bajrang Dal member.