Attempts being made to communalise trivial issues; here's one more...

NT Correspondent

Shivamogga: A viral report alle ging that a man was allegedly beaten up by several Muslim youths for casting his vote for the BJP was in fact a drunken brawl between friends in Shivamogga.

The incident took place on Monday when a wounded autorickshaw driver, identified as Harish Rao, approached the office of the superintendent of police alleging that he was beaten up by a group of Muslim youths who also “damaged” his autorickshaw. As the cops were examining the damaged threewheeler, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa ‘coincidentally’, entered SP Mithun Kumar's office.

As soon as he noticed Eshwarappa, Rao fell to his feet crying for help and alleging that he was beaten up by a group of Muslim youths, and that he had voted for the BJP in Karnataka Assembly elections. The senior politician consoled the man and handed him Rs 20,000 in cash. Further, he asked Rao to have his vehicle repaired and meet him at his house the next day.

The former minister also asked the police to conduct a detailed probe into the matter and demanded strict action against the culprits. As the matter escalated causing a political and communal upheaval, several users on social media platforms shared pictures and videos of Rao, alleging that he was beaten up by Muslim youths for casting his vote in favour of the BJP.

The widely circulated messages blamed Congress workers for the incident. On Tuesday, Congress Corporator HC Yogesh visited Vinobha Nagar Police Station to find out more details. He was shocked when Rao stated that the Muslim men who attacked him were actually his friends.

"I never said that I was attacked for voting for the BJP," Rao said in his statement in front of Yogesh at the police station. Rao revealed that he had been to a local bar along with his friends, Abrar and Nazrullah, the previous day. Following heavy drinking, as they were returning, Rao lost control of his autorickshaw and hit Abrar's two-wheeler. In a fit of rage, Abrar is said to have damaged the autorickshaw and assaulted him.

"The fight took place due to a dispute between us friends. It was never communal or political," a surprised Rao clarified. According to sources, police recorded statements of Harish Rao, Abrar and Nazrullah and ordered Abrar to get Rao's autorickshaw repaired at his own expense.