A man, Manjunath, was arrested for allegedly attacking a right to information (RTI) activist, police said on Wednesday, adding that a hunt was on for two more suspects.
The activist, retired government school teacher Munikrishna (66), was attacked, probably over a property dispute, at his Sahakarnagar residence in Kodigehalli with swords, iron rods and sticks on Tuesday night.
Deputy commissioner of police (north-east) Basavaraj Malagatti termed the condition of Munikrishna as “not serious.” The assault victim underwent a surgery, for serious injuries sustained, at the Columbia Asia Hospital, his son said.
The victim’s family members, who had witnessed the attack, accused the police of not registering the case initially. When contacted on Wednesday, the DCP too expressed ignorance, but later confirmed the incident.
According to Munikrishna’s son Prasanth, he was on the first floor of their house when the incident occurred. He had rushed downstairs hearing the screams and found three men attacking his father. The assailants soon fled on a motorcycle, leaving behind their weapons and a bleeding Munikrishna.
Besides Prasanth, who runs a dairy booth, Munikrishna’s wife Ratnamma also witnessed the violence. Munikrishna had filed an RTI application with the BBMP, requesting the details of kathas. “My father had returned after filing the RTI request and was sitting in his home-office downstairs. At 8.15 pm, they attacked him,” he added.
The Kodigehalli police had registered a case under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code. “We have identified one of the attackers as Manjunath, who is associated with the society. We have arrested him, while the others are being traced. It is a petty case pertaining to a property dispute pending before the court,” an investigating officer said on the condition of anonymity since he was not authorised to speak to the media.
