Accused says Bajrang Dal man was harassing his sister: Police

Based on a complaint from Sunil, the police have taken three persons into custody -- Sameer, Imiyaan and Mansoor.

Bengaluru: A day after a Bajrang Dal worker was attacked in Shivamogga district, three persons have been arrested in connection with the case. During the investigation, one of the suspects in custody said the attack was not political but a response to the Bajrang Dal worker harassing his sister, police said.

Mithun Kumar, Superintendent of Police of Shivamogga, said that during the questioning, Sameer told police that Sunil was pestering his sister for the last three months. (HT Archives)

On Monday morning, the accused, identified as Sameer, allegedly attacked Bajrang Dal member Sunil (28) with a machete and chased him on a bike in Sagara town, the police said. However, Sunil managed to escape the attack. Sunil is a resident of Upparakeri in Sagara taluk, police said.

“I have been working with Bajrang Dal for many years. I was on my way to the office from my house Monday morning. Miscreants were waiting for me near the Abharan jewellery store. They abused me verbally, took out a machete from the bike and tried to attack me. But I managed to escape,” Sunil had said.

Based on a complaint from Sunil, the police have taken three persons into custody -- Sameer, Imiyaan and Mansoor.

Mithun Kumar, Superintendent of Police of Shivamogga, said that during the questioning, Sameer told police that Sunil was pestering his sister for the last three months. “Despite several warnings from Sameer, Sunil continued troubling his sister. On Monday, Sunil who was on a bike met Sameer and chided him,” Kumar said.

Sameer is a shepherd and carried a machete to cut branches from the trees for the sheep and used that weapon to attack Sunil. The role of his friends will become clear during the investigation, the SP said.

Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal and Hindu activists called for a bandh in Sagar town over the incident. Shops were closed and a protest march was taken out. The police have beefed up security in the town.

Activists claimed that Sunil and Sameer had fought earlier over the issue of hijab and developed an enmity. Sameer had allegedly threatened Sunil on Sunday and tried to attack him on Monday Hundreds of Bajrang Dal activists had gathered before the Sagar police station and staged a protest condemning the incident on Monday.

Shivamogga witnessed a spate of communal incidents last year. Tension gripped several parts of Shivamogga in February last year as violence broke out following the murder of Harsha, a 26-year-old Bajrang Dal worker, who was stabbed to death. In August, two people were injured in stabbing and stone-throwing amid communal tension in the city as two groups clashed over displaying banners of Savarkar.