Violent Udupi gang clash video viral; 3 arrested

UDUPI: Gang violence erupted right in the middle of a road in Udupi district, late at night on May 18, a video footage of which went viral on social media today. One person involved in the fight was injured. Police said three persons identified as Ashiq, Rakib and Saqlain, all members of the Garuda Gang, have been arrested, while four others are still at large. Two cars, two bikes, a sword, and a dagger were also seized.

Udupi SP Dr Arun K said the viral video shows two factions from the same gang engaged in a clash. A case was filed at Udupi Town Police Station on May 20, he added.

The shocking video footage seems straight out of a crime flick, with two Maruti Swift cars involved in what initially looks like an incident of road rage.

However, within seconds it becomes clear that it isn't such a simple case as two groups are literally at daggers drawn, after one of the cars reverses and hits the other on the bonnet. Soon, men jump out of both the vehicles and attack each other, even as one of the cars rams into a man wielding a sword-like object and knocks him down.

Two men can then be seen assaulting the person who lies injured on the ground.

While police are yet to determine the exact reason behind the clash, infighting over a financial dispute could have been the trigger.

Condemning the incident, BJP's state general secretary and Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar questioned chief minister Siddaramaiah on X, saying: "Criminals have no fear of law in Karnataka. The law-and-order situation has collapsed not only in Udupi, and Dakshina Kannada, but in the entire state. Police stations are used for political vendetta. The incident shows the failure of the home department and home minister."

Earlier, a 19-year-old from Barkur had filed a complaint, alleging that between May 13 and 17, one Dhanush had given him a car for sale. Mahammed Fazil, an acquaintance of the complainant, had taken the vehicle for a test drive and reportedly handed it over to a person called Isak and others, who allegedly placed a sword in the vehicle with the intention of committing a robbery.

The vehicle was later found to have suffered severe damages.


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