Mangaluru: Puttur Town police have registered a case against several persons following a complaint by Abdul Hakeem of Kemminje, who alleged that he was pushed, abused and threatened at the Puttur Press Club on Sept 1.According to the complaint, Hakeem, a Congress party worker, had gone to the press club to hold a press conference to clarify certain allegations made against him. He alleged that Udaya Patali, Junaid Biji, Ishaq Salmara, Basheer Parladka, Hakeem of Bolwar, Monu Bappalige, Nashir Kolpe, Praveen Acharya and others pushed him, abused him and threatened him with dire consequences.Hakeem further alleged that after he entered the press club, the accused prevented him from coming out. He was later admitted to a private hospital in Mangaluru for pain sustained in the alleged incident.Based on the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 127(2), 351(1), 351(2), 351(3), 352 and 115 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Speaking at a press conference in Mangaluru on Thursday, Hakeem alleged that supporters of Puttur MLA Ashok Rai attempted to attack him while he was addressing the media at the Puttur Press Club. He said journalists present at the venue intervened and brought the situation under control. Hakeem further alleged that even after the press conference ended, Rai arrived at the venue with his supporters, resulting in a confrontational situation. He termed the incident serious, and expressed concern over intimidation of a person while addressing the media.MLA’s responseRai said that Hakeem had spoken provocatively and used abusive language near the Puttur Press Club. “He spoke derogatorily against party workers and women. I went there and dispersed the crowd to avoid conflict,” Rai said, urging the police to take necessary action.
