3 more arrested over Mangalore party attack

Mangalore, 31 Jul 2012: Mangalore City Police arrested three more persons in connection with Saturday’s brutal attack on revellers at a birthday party at Morning Mist home stay at Padil on Tuesday. The latest arrests take the total number to 15. Police on Sunday had arrested eight, including the main accused Subash Padil, and four accused on Monday. More arrests are in the offing based on the progress of investigations, City Police Chief Seemant Kumar Singh said.

 

Those arrested on Tuesday are Varun Poojary, 20, of Santhosh Nagar, Vamanjoor, Kiran Poojary, 20, of Malali village, and Puneeth, 19, of Kudupu village. These accused face the same charges under which the remaining accused have been booked, Seemant said, adding police is trying to collate information on identities of other possible suspects based on video footage and information given by the accused during their questioning.

 

 

In a significant move, the city police has also changed the investigating officer of the case by appointing TR Jagannath, assistant commissioner of police, Mangalore South sub-division in place of Ravish Naik, Police Inspector, Mangalore Rural police station. Seemant said given the sensitivities involved in the case and its sensation nature, it was deemed fit that a senior police official take over investigation. "Other police officials will assist him," he said.

 

Likewise, prohibitory orders imposed under section 144 of CrPC banning gathering of more than five persons, for a period of 72-hours from 6am on Sunday has been extended by a further period of 48-hours. Seemant said city police will review the prohibitory orders based on the ground situation. Additional police forces summoned to deal with any exigencies will be kept on standby rather than active duty and withdrawn at a later date, he added.