Four held for assaulting rival group member

Mangaluru: The

city police

have

arrested

four

men

in connection with a recent

group clash

that inflicted grievous injuries to one of the gang members in

Urwa police station limits

.

The arrested are Navaneeth of Ashoknagar, Hemanth of Hoigebail, Deekshith from Boloor and Sandesh. The assault, reported late on November 27 night, was a

retaliation

to the murder of

Indrajeeth

in Barke police station limits in 2020. The murder was allegedly carried out by ‘Boloor gang’, said police commissioner N Shashi Kumar.

The arrested were planning to assault Ankith, who was allegedly involved in the murder. However, they assaulted Shravan, a friend of Ankith. Shravan, who suffered serious injuries, is now recovering, the commissioner said.

“The rivalry between Boloor gang and Alake gang over tiger dance (pili vesha) and groupism has often resulted in clashes in the city. In 2014, the rivalry had led to the murder of Sanjay, son of Talwar Jagga alias Janardhan of Boloor gang. In retaliation to this murder, a murder attempt was made on Rithesh of Alake gang in 2019. In 2020, Indrajith of Alake gang was murdered by Ullas Kanchan, Gautham, Rakesh, Sharan, Kaushik, Ashik, Mokshith, Jagga, Nithin Poojary, Devadas Poojary (all from Boloor gang),” the commissioner explained.

The commissioner said that 13-14 persons were part of the assault on Shravan. “They will all be arrested shortly. Mangaluru city police will not tolerate any such anti-social activities. Only if the rowdy sheeters’ conduct is good, their rowdy-sheet case will be closed,” he said.