Murder of Hindu activist in Mangaluru: Two arrested for attempt on life of autorickshaw driver near Udupi

Two persons have been arrested.

Two persons allegedly made an attempt on the life of an autorickshaw driver at Athrady near Manipal, in Udupi district of Karnataka, on May 1 as retribution for the murder of 30-year-old Suhas Shetty at Bajpe near Mangaluru.

Hiriyadka police arrested Sandesh, 31, and Sushant, 32, both residents of Hiriyadka in Udupi district, in connection with the attempt.

Police said autorickshaw driver Aboobacker received a call around 11.30 p.m. on May 1 from his friend Dinesh seeking his service. As he was driving from Madaga to the house of Dinesh at Atrady, the two accused followed the autorickshaw on a motorcycle. Near Atrady petrol bunk, the two accused persons told Aboobacker to stop his autorickshaw.

When Aboobacker tried to speed away, the accused blocked his way. The pillion rider waved a machete-like object at Aboobacker. Seeing the rider holding an empty glass bottle, Aboobacker drove his vehicle into Shedigudde where he parked his vehicle by the roadside. He scaled up the compound wall of a house and escaped from the area.

The accused damaged the windshield of the autorickshaw before leaving the place.

Following a complaint by Aboobacker, Hiriyadka police arrested Sandhesh and Sushant.

In a video statement, Superintendent of Police K. Arun said the arrested persons told the police that the attempt on the life of the autorickshaw driver was to seek revenge for the murder of Suhas Shetty.