BJP leader among three stabbed in late-night brawl at Karnataka's Malpe Beach

UDUPI: A clash near a guest house at Malpe Beach on Tuesday night left three youths, including local BJP leader Manjunath Salian alias Manju Kola, injured in a stabbing.

Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said the incident occurred around 9.30pm when the accused — Amruth Bhandary, Prajnesh, Puneeth Poojary and Abhijith — allegedly arrived with a minor in a white SUV. They allegedly formed an unlawful assembly and came armed with a knife near Blue Waves Guest House.


They allegedly picked a quarrel with the complainant, Santosh A Amin, and his friends — Manju, Dhanush, Lathish and Varun — who were sitting on the seashore discussing an issue related to Amruth Bhandary's sister.

When Manju questioned them, the accused allegedly verbally abused him and physically assaulted the group. Police said Prajnesh, with the intention to kill, took out a knife from his trouser pocket and stabbed Manju on the left side of his abdomen. Varun and Lathish were also stabbed and injured. The accused then allegedly kicked and beat Santosh, Dhanush, Lathish and Varun, and threatened them before fleeing.

A case was registered under sections 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 352, 109, 115(2), 118(1), 351(2) and 190 of BNS at Malpe police station.

Police later arrested Amruth Bhandary, 22; Prajnesh, 22; Puneeth Poojary, 24, of Kaup; and Abhijith, 20, of Inna village, Karkala taluk. They will be produced before the jurisdictional court after formalities. The minor will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.

The operation was carried out under Udupi DSP Belliappa and CPI Ramachandra Nayak. The investigation was led by PSI Eeranna Shiragumpi with head constable Adarsh and staff.

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