Karnataka: MP’s brother, friends assault farmer?

Hassan: Four members of a birthday party, in which Rajendra Simha – younger brother of Mysuru-Madikeri MP Pratap Simha – too was reportedly present, allegedly assaulted a farmer, broke his right leg and also assaulted his mother in Sakleshpur on August 2.

The incident came to light only on Sunday. The injured farmer, Deepak, filed a complaint at the Sakleshpur Rural police station on August 3. Deepak has stated that he came to know that one of the gang of four members was Rajendra only later.

According to the complaint, the group of friends in a car had reached a stream and wanted to wash their vehicle. Deepak too was at the water body washing his cattle. The group, which Deepak stated was drunk, asked the farmer to leave, but he refused.

An argument ensued and soon, the gang of friends started beating up Deepak. Deepak’s mother rushed to rescue her son, but the gang allegedly attacked her too, before fleeing the spot. Based on Deepak’s complaint, the police traced the car and found that it was owned by Darshan, a resident of Jamabarahalli near Hanbal of Sakleshpur taluk.

Darshan too was part of the gang that assaulted Deepak. The police learnt that they were celebrating the birthday of one of the group members at Kyanahalli of Sakleshpur taluk before the incident occurred. Darshan, who spoke to the police over phone, has reportedly confessed to the attack. Rajendra told Deccan Chronicle that he was not part of the group that assaulted Deepak.

“If it is proved that I assaulted Deepak, then authorities can initiate action against me.” Deepak said that Rajendra was at the spot with his friends when he was attacked. “But I cannot confirm whether Rajendra too joined them while assaulting me.”