Honnavar Back on Edge: Unidentified miscreants try to knife a school girl

Bangalore Mirror

Honnavar: Just when Uttara Kannada district was returning to normalcy, unidentified miscreants stabbed a girl student at Magod in Honnavar when she was returning from school on Thursday. Following the incident, prohibitory orders under Section 144 has been clamped in and around Honnavar.

 

According to sources, the incident took place when two people who had their face covered with masks, stabbed the girl. She reportedly tried to fight back, and during the process, she sustained wounds on her palm. The accused fled from the scene in a bike, following which the girl was rushed to a hospital. Her condition is said to be stable.

 

As news spread, people belonging to different communities started gathered in large numbers. Sensing trouble, Shops and business establishments downed shutters. Police said deliberate attempts were made on social media and Whatspp to incite communal tension.

 

A senior police officer said, based on the statement of the girl, a case has been registered. Several sections including to attempt to murder as well as sections under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act have been slapped against the accused as the victim is a minor. The incident occurred at a time when Honnavar was showing signs of returning to normalcy after violence early this week over the mysterious death of a 19-year-old man, into which the state government had announced a CBI probe.Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there was no link between the attack on the girl and the recent incidents.

 

Siddaramaiah told reporters in Kushtagi that the attack on the girl had “no relation” to the recent incidents. “I also appeal to the people not to pay attention to rumours. The situation is peaceful,” he said. Accusing the BJP of using Mesta’s death for political gains, he said, “They want to polarise votes;it is not possible.” Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde said that the state government had destroyed all the evidences in Paresh Mesta’s death case before handing it over to the CBI. Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader on Thursday informed the government sanctioned Rs 5 lakh each to families of SDPI worker Ashraf Kalayi and RSS worker Sharath Madiwala, who were murdered in during communal unrest in July in Dakshina Kannada.