Mangaluru: Cops open fire at saffronite rowdies in self-defence; arrest one

Mangaluru, Jul 9: The Mangaluru city police today opened fire when three notorious rowdies having links with several saffron outfits allegedly attacked them in an attempt to evade arrest near Adyar on the outskirts of the city.

One of the rowdy-sheeters who tried to attack cop has been identified as Bhavith Raj. He was among the three miscreants who had tried to kill a Muslim mango trader in the wee hours of Sunday near Kulshekhar Chowki. Though the trader Umar Farooq was transporting mangoes in a goods truck, Bhavit and the two other saffronites had accused him of transporting cattle and assaulted with a sword. The policemen who later visited the spot had confirmed that Farooq was transporting mangoes and not cattle.

This morning a team of police waylaid the car of the accused in the case on a narrow road near Adyar. To evade arrest the occupants of the car allegedly attacked cop with knife and machete. However, the cops managed to arrest Bhavit from the car after opening fire in self-defiance. Two others managed to escape.

According to police sources, Bhavit is already facing eight criminal cases including murder attempts. Mangaluru city police commission Sandeep Patil visited the spot after the incident.