Bhatkal: Two policemen were among three people injured in a knife attack during a clash in Murdeshwar in Bhatkal taluk in the intervening night of August 8 and 9. Police have arrested three people in connection with the incident, while a search is underway for the other accused.
The incident took place on the service road of National Highway 66. According to police, constable Vinayak Shetty and head constable Sangappa Harijan reached the spot after receiving information about a disturbance near Murdeshwar Naka while they were on patrol duty.
According to the complaint, Raju Naik alias Kaddi Raju, Hrithik Naik, Madan Naik, Yogesh Naik, Darshan and others had allegedly gathered there and were causing inconvenience to the public. When the group allegedly attempted to attack a man identified as Manoj Naik with a knife, the policemen intervened. Manoj Naik and the two policemen were injured in the incident.
Police said the accused obstructed the policemen from discharging their duties and attacked them after they intervened. Hrithik Naik allegedly attacked constable Vinayak Shetty with a knife, while Raju Naik allegedly stabbed head constable Sangappa Harijan, causing injuries.
The accused allegedly abused the policemen and threatened to kill them if they intervened in their affairs again before fleeing the spot in a white car.
The injured policemen were given initial treatment at a local hospital in Murdeshwar and later shifted to a hospital in Udupi for further treatment.
Following the incident, Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police Deepan M.N. reached the Murdeshwar police station from Karwar and reviewed the situation. Two police teams were formed to trace the accused.
Speaking to SahilOnline, SP Deepan said three accused — Raju Naik alias Kaddi Raju, his brother Hrithik Naik and Madan Naik — had been arrested, while efforts were underway to trace the remaining accused.