amateur photographer

photographing birds

Immanval Ferdinand

Dodda Amani lake

SD card

Bengaluru

I usually visit Hesaraghatta Lake and Magadi Lake for birdwatching. I never go alone. I prefer visiting the lakes with my friends between October and February when the birds visit these lakes. – Udaya Tejasvi Urs, birdwacher from Yelahanka

FIR

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Anwas attacked by strangers when he went to a lake near Hosakote to take photos of birds that flock thereIf someone told youwould be injurious to health, you would laugh. But, an amateur photographer, can attest to that.On December 28, Ferdinand, an amateur photographer who works at Amazon, went to thenear Hosakote to take photographs of birds that flock to the lake. But instead of coming back from his expedition with afull of photos of birds, Ferdinand, found himself coming to at a hospital.Around 11 am when Ferdinand was clicking photos of birds at the lake bund, he was attacked from behind with a wooden log.“Two unknown people attacked me with a wooden log. They beat me on my head and on my left hand and I fell unconscious on the lake bund. Later, some people found me unconscious and shifted me to a government hospital at Hosakote for treatment. At 6.30 pm, I was shifted to Columbia Asia Hospital infor treatment,’’Immanval Ferdinand said in a statement to Hostakote police.The police have registered a First Information Report () against the two unknown people under Section 324 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for assaulting Ferdinand with dangerous weapons.“Our policemen patrol the lake during the evening and at night. This unfortunate incident took place during the day. We will send a policeman to the lake bund in the mornings too. We have registered a case and investigations are on,’’ said Hosakote Police Inspector V D Shivaraju.Meanwhile, lake volunteers and birdwatchers have expressed shock over the incident. They have demanded that the police take strict action against the culprits and beef up security around the lake.“It is quite shocking to know about this incident. My nephew Immanval Ferdinand, a resident of Whitefield, visited Dodda Amani Lake near Hosakote to watch birds and take photos. The miscreants attacked him to snatch the camera, lenses and wallet. I want the Hosakote police to act tough with the miscreants,’’ said Lourd Nathan.Stating that the attack on Immanval Ferdinand was the first of its kind on birdwatchers, Udaya Tejasvi Urs, a photographer from Yelahanka, has advised amateur photographers, especially those working in IT companies, not to visit the lake alone but to go in groups.“I usually visit Hesaraghatta Lake and Magadi Lake for birdwatching. I never go alone. I prefer visiting the lakes with my friends between October and February when the birds visit these lakes,’’ said Udaya Tejasvi Urs.Expressing similar opinion, Manju Vikas Sastry, Secretary of Youth Photographic Society has said the birdwatchers have to be cautious while visiting secluded places.“Miscreants target birdwatchers to snatch costly cameras and lenses which they carry along on these expeditions. I would like to advise them to take photos of unknown persons on their mobile phone if they come across such people. It will help the police to nab the culprits in the event of any unfortunate incident,’’ said Manju Vikas Sastry.The volunteers working at Dodda Amani Lake have described the attack on Immanval Ferdinand as unfortunate and shocking.“We want to create awareness among the visitors on the measures to be taken while visiting Dodda Amani Lake. We have submitted a number of letters to Hosakote Municipal authorities to clear weeds on the lake bund but nothing has been done so far,’’ said Swaroop Bharadwaj, a mechanical engineer who also works as a lakevolunteer.