A group of people allegedly attempting to assault the owners of a photocopying shop as police take them away for questioning in Puttur town on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Puttur Town police have registered two separate cases over two alleged inflammatory social media posts, including one on a Facebook account related to former BJP MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor, in relation to a clash between two groups at a photocopying centre in Puttur on Saturday.In the post on the Facebook account “Sanjeeva Matandoor” on Sunday, it was mentioned that Mr. Matandoor strongly condemned the incident and wanted the police to book the real accused by dispassionately investigating the case. He supported the bandh call given by the Hindu Jagaran Vedike. An image of a call for a bandh by the Vedike in Puttur, if the police fail to arrest the persons allegedly involved in harassing a woman shop owner within 48 hours, was posted on the page.Considering these posts as an act of inciting people to form an unlawful assembly and undertake illegal activity, the Puttur Town police registered a case under Sections 353(2), 57, and 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the holder of the “Sanjeeva Matandoor” Facebook account.Similarly, another case was registered against the admin of the “Dinesh Panjiga” WhatsApp group under the same provisions of the BNS for spreading information about the bandh call, hurting religious sentiments, and instilling fear among people.On Saturday, there was a heated exchange between three customers and two copying shop owners over damage to a document given for photocopying. When the customers started to record the incident, the two owners, who included a woman, objected, and there was an exchange of blows between the two groups. As the owners were being taken away by the police in a van, a group tried to assault them and block the movement of the vehicle.On a complaint by the customers, shop owner Sudharshan Pai was arrested for offences under Sections 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police also registered a counter-complaint filed by woman shop owner Anjana Pai against customer Mubashira and her two family members for offences punishable under Sections 115(2), 352, 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the BNS. A third complaint was registered by the police against Naushad, Niyaz, and others for attempting to assault Sudharshan Pai and his father Sadashiva Pai in the police van. This case was registered for offences under Sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of his duty) and 121(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter a public servant from his duty) of the BNS.In a statement, Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police K. Arun said police action will be based on evidence related to the incident and on applicable provisions of law. Action by the police against persons found to have committed an offence will be irrespective of the person’s religion, community, or social identity. The police cannot merely act on emotional demands, public pressure, or social media narratives. Police cannot be compelled to arrest any individual merely because of public or communal pressure, Dr. Arun said. Published - August 23, 2026 06:27 pm IST
