'Swords, knives & rods': How 15 men 'hacked' pickup driver to death in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: The Bantwal Rural Police registered a case against 15 persons in connection with the murder of pickup driver Abdul Rahiman, 32, a resident of Kolthamajalu, Badagabellooru village, Bantwal and secretary of the local Juma Masjid.In a complaint, Mohammad Nisar on Tuesday said that while he was on his way to Polali, he received a call informing him that Abdul Rahiman and Kalandar Shafi were brutally assaulted with sharp weapons at Irakodi in Kuriyala village. Upon reaching the spot, Nisar found Rahiman lying on the ground with serious injuries. Shafi, who was critically injured, was taken to a private hospital in Mangaluru.En route, Shafi informed him that the two loaded sand near a river between 3pm and 3:30 pm and were unloading it near the house of Rajeevi when a group of about 15 men armed with talwar, knife and rod arrived. They dragged Rahiman from the driver's seat and launched a violent attack on him. Shafi claimed he too was assaulted when he tried to intervene. He told police that the assailants were known to him.The FIR has named Deepak as the accused, along with Sumith and 13 others.Rahiman succumbed to his injuries shortly after, and his body was later shifted to a private hospital in Deralakatte for postmortem. The incident sparked tension in the area, with increased police presence to prevent any untoward incidents. Protestors gathered outside the hospital, expressing anger against the Congress-led state govt for failing to control the incident.In the early hours of Wednesday, the body was taken to the Kuthar Madani Nagar Mosque for the ritual bath. Hundreds gathered to pay their final respects. After the Mayyath Namaz (funeral prayer), the body will be taken to Rahiman’s residence in Kolthamajalu via Thokkottu and Pumpwell, amid police security.Arrangements for the burial have been made at Muhiyuddin Juma Masjid in Kolthamajalu. The police have launched an investigation, with senior officials camping in Bantwal. A case was filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — 103, 109, 118(1), 118(2), 190, 191(1), 191(2), and 191(3). Investigations are ongoing.