District president of the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike (KKSV) Suresh Bhat Bakrabail was smeared with cow dung here on Tuesday after he held a press conference where he linked rightwing groups to the shooting of a 24-year-old cattle transporter near Sringeri recently.
According to Mr. Bhat, who filed a complaint with the Mangalore North Station, around 4.30 p.m., when the KKSV was conducting their internal meeting after the press meet, two men stormed into the venue at Hotel Woodlands and smeared his face with cow dung.
As the two ran away, restaurant goers caught hold of one of them near the parking lot of the hotel. The accused, identified as Harish, a hospital worker, was later handed over to the police.
A number of Bajrang Dal activists arrived at the police station where Mr. Bakrabail lodged a complaint. Members of the Popular Front of India, the Welfare Party of India (WPI), the Students Islamic Organisation and the Dalit Sangharasha Samiti (Krishnappa Bana) arrived at the station and condemned the incident.
Mangalore North Police have filed a case against “two unknown persons” under sections of assault (IPC 323, IPC 355) and attempt to murder (IPC 307). Police said the name of Mr. Harish would be included only after questioning him.
