Belagavi, 30 June

Five Sri Rama Sene activists were tied to a tree and beaten with sticks by a group of villagers in Ingali, Hukkeri taluk, on Saturday evening. The activists claimed they were assaulted for trying to stop alleged illegal cow transport, but locals asserted the violence was in response to the activists’ misbehaviour with a woman from their community.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bhimashankar Guled said that though no complaints were filed, police registered a suo motu case after a video of the assault went viral on social media. The footage showed the five tied to a coconut tree and beaten by a mob of about a dozen men.

Initial investigations revealed the incident was not related to cow transport. SP Guled clarified the attackers were from multiple communities in Ingali village, refuting social media claims of communal targeting.

Earlier, the activists had intercepted a vehicle transporting cows owned by Babasab Ramzan Multani, who had valid documents for dairy farming. Although police initially impounded the cows, they were returned after verification.

The activists later allegedly pursued the vehicle again, leading to the confrontation and subsequent assault.

Hukkeri MLA Nikhil Katti called the assault “inhuman” and condemned the act. Former MP Ramesh Katti urged legal action and praised the police for prompt intervention.