Bhatkal: Two separate FIRs have been registered at the Bhatkal Town Police Station against activists affiliated with Sangh Parivar organizations in connection with protests staged over an alleged assault by Uttara Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Narayan on a Sangh Parivar worker during a rowdy-sheeter parade in Sirsi.
The controversy began after reports circulated on social media alleging that SP M. Narayan physically assaulted Srinivas Naik, a Sangh Parivar activist, during a police interrogation in Sirsi on April 8. SP Narayan had reportedly summoned Naik along with nine others as part of a law and order review during the parade of rowdy-sheeters.
In response to the alleged incident, a group of activists staged a protest late on April 8 at Bhatkal’s Shamsuddin Circle and near the Taluka Panchayat office, blocking National Highway 66 for more than an hour. A second protest was organized the following morning, April 9, in front of the Bhatkal Town Police Station.
In connection with these events, two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed. The first FIR, registered by PSI Naveen S. Naik, pertains to the highway blockade and names 11 individuals: Nagaraj Venkat Naik from Jali Talageri, Abhishek Timmappa Naik from Hanuman Nagar, Nagesh Narayan Naik from Honnegadde, Nagendra Shankar Naik from Herur Elebara, Lokesh Ravi Devadiga from Mundalli, Ravikumar Shashikant Shet from Sonarkeri, Eshwar Durgappa Naik from Taland, Jagadish Narayan Naik from Karikal, Krishna Madev Naik from Muttalli, Nagaraj Madev Moger from Karikal, and Jagadish Somayya Naik from Benandur, along with 25 to 30 unidentified persons.
The second FIR, lodged by PSI Timmappa Bedumane, relates to the April 9 protest in front of the police station. It names 10 individuals, many of whom are also listed in the first FIR, with additional names including Devendra Mastappa Naik from Kandekodlu, Narayan Gonda from Kokti Nagar, and Rajendra Suryakant Naik from Kaikini in Murdeshwar. This FIR also includes 30 to 35 unidentified individuals.
Police sources have stated that more names could be added to the list of accused as the investigation progresses.