Burial Case: 1 Held, 7 Cases Filed in YouTubers Assault

Mangaluru: Police have arrested one person in connection with the assault on a group of YouTubers who were filming content at Pangala cross, near Dharmasthala. The incident took place on Wednesday and had triggered a series of FIRs following tension in the area.

The attackers allegedly damaged equipment, took away the memory card, and issued threats to the content creators.

According to SP Dr Arun, Somanath Safalya, a resident of Dharmasthala, was taken into custody on Thursday from Kokkada. Following his arrest, Safalya was produced before a court, which has remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody. Further investigations are underway.

Meanwhile, police have registered seven cases in connection with the unrest and violence at Pangala cross. While four cases have been filed at the Dharmasthala police station, three cases have been registered with the Belthangady police over the incidents, which included assaults on YouTubers and journalists, unlawful gathering of people, and obstruction of police duties.

In the first case, Ajay, owner of the YouTube channel Kudla Rampage, lodged a complaint stating he and his associates — cameraman Suhas, Santosh from Sanchari Studio, and Abhishek from United Media — were attacked by 15 to 50 individuals. The attackers allegedly beat them up, damaged the camera by throwing it on the road, stole the memory card, and issued life threats.

The second FIR was registered suo motu by the police following reports that 25 to 50 people had unlawfully assembled at Pangala cross in two separate groups with the intent to engage in criminal activities. Despite being instructed to disperse by the Dharmasthala sub-inspector, the groups allegedly ignored the warnings, clashed with each other, and obstructed the police.

In another suo motu case, police stated that 50 to 100 individuals had gathered unlawfully in front of the Dharmasthala police station without prior permission.

In the fourth FIR, Pramod Kumar Shetty, 42, a resident of Beltangady, alleged that upon learning of the attack on YouTubers, went to Pangala cross where he was allegedly verbally abused and assaulted by a group of 30 to 40 people, who also caused damage to two vehicles and a camera.

In a related development, Harish R., crime reporter with a TV channel, filed a complaint stating that he had gone to Benaka Hospital in Ujire to report on those injured in the Pangala cross incident. When he asked one Girish Mattannavar for a video byte, he was allegedly abused and attacked by Mahesh Shetty Timarodi and others. Also, a person identified as Sameer reportedly threatened Harish with dire consequences.

In another complaint, Ganesh Shetty of Beltangady stated that he had taken the injured to Benaka Hospital in a vehicle. At the hospital, when Mahesh Shetty Timarodi and Girish Mattannavar were approached by a reporter and cameraman for a news byte, they were allegedly blocked. When they refused, the reporter and cameraman reportedly used abusive language and shoved them. Later, he alleged, a false news report was aired by anchor Ajith Hanumakkanavar on the channel claiming that Mahesh had assaulted their reporter.

In another suo motu case, Belthangady police stated that after receiving information about a crowd gathering near Benaka Hospital, sub-inspectors and staff reached the location. Around 50 to 100 people had assembled and were raising slogans. Despite instructions to disperse and not create disorder, the crowd allegedly obstructed police duty.