4 Muslims stripped, thrashed, paraded by saffron activists in Gadag

Gadag, Mar 13: In a shocking incident, four persons belonging to Muslim community including two minors were stripped and assaulted in Nargund town of Gadag district on Saturday by a group of Hindutva activist for allegedly circulating an ‘incendiary’ video clipping. Police sources said that, as many as nine members of a right wing outfit (according to victims, there was a group of around 40 people, not just nine) stripped and thrashed Khaja Sab Malasamudra (26) and three others, including two minors, over a video clipping their friend had recorded seven months ago and circulated to members of a Hindutva outfit. Angered by this, the members of a right wing organisation arrived at tailoring shop where the three of the four victims were working, dragged them out, stripped them and thrashed them black and blue all the way to Nargund police station, around half-a-kilometre away from the shop. Three victims, who are severely injured are being treated at Karnataka Institute of Medical Science, Hubballi, while another is recovering at Nargund taluk hospital. The police have arrested three of the nine main accused with the help of a video that has recorded the thrashing incident. “The footage is clear enough to identify the attackers, and based on this we have arrested the three main accused,” said Gadag Superintendent of Police K Santosh Babu. He added that search is on for the remaining six attackers and Jamal, who recorded the objectionable video. Santosh also said that the leaders of both the communities do not wish to register a complaint as it would snowball into an issue. A conciliatory meeting of both the communities will be held, he said. CoastalDigest.com