Policeman suffers fracture after brawl outside bar

Mangaluru: A police constable on patrol allegedly sustained a fracture in his left wrist after being assaulted by three men outside a bar and restaurant at Konchady junction in Derebail on Sunday night.

According to the complaint filed by CPC Appanna Shedabal, he and AHC Bhimashankar were on Hoysala patrol duty from 8 pm, when they received a call around 10.06 pm regarding a disturbance at a bar and restaurant in Konchady junction.

The complainant and patrol vehicle driver Bhimashankar rushed to the spot and enquired about the incident. Staff at the establishment informed them that the persons involved in the altercation had already come outside. While the police personnel were standing near the entrance, security staff identified three men as those allegedly involved in creating the disturbance.

When questioned, the trio allegedly behaved arrogantly and refused to cooperate with police. The three men then allegedly moved towards a nearby pan shop, where one of them, identified as Prasad, lit a cigarette and began smoking in front of police. When the complainant informed him that smoking in a public place was an offence, Prasad allegedly replied that he had paid for the cigarette and could smoke wherever he wished.

The complaint further stated that when Prasad was asked to throw away the cigarette, he allegedly began recording the interaction on his mobile phone and continued to behave rudely. The other two men identified themselves as Uday and Prashanth.

When police directed the trio to leave the area, Uday and Prashanth allegedly obstructed the complainant and challenged the police, saying they would not leave. Prasad allegedly abused the police personnel, and when approached by the complainant, allegedly pushed him forcefully to the ground.

As a result, the complainant suffered severe pain and swelling in his left wrist, and was unable to move it. He was later taken to a private hospital by another police constable, where doctors diagnosed a fracture in the left wrist and advised surgery after admitting him for treatment.

Police have registered a case against Prasad, Uday and Prashanth, for allegedly abusing police personnel, obstructing them from discharging their duties and causing grievous injury to the complainant.