18-year-old shot in leg allegedly by Youth Congress leader during clash in Mangaluru

Youth Congress leader Suhail Kandak got into an argument with local residents and allegedly fired a gun in the direction of the crowd on Sunday night in Ullal.

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Tense moments in Ullal, Mangaluru arose on Sunday night after Youth Congress leader Suhail Kandak allegedly fired rounds of bullets, and injured a local youth in the melee. According to the police officials, the incident was in retaliation to a remark made against Suhail by a local resident.

According to the residents, a few men drove themselves into the residential lane of KK Nagar near Mukkachery in Ullal on Sunday night. “One person (later identified as Suhail Kandak) got down from the car and unprovoked, he started firing bullets in the air. The locals, who came out of their homes, got into an argument with the car occupants for creating ruckus and asked them to leave,” the police official said.

However, when Suhail and his group refused to leave the area, the police alleged that the irate residents, who eventually swelled in number, were furious and intimidated the group with wooden bats and sticks and in the process damaged the car as well. It was in this moment that Suhail, who identified himself as the state general secretary of the Youth Congress (Karnataka), pointed the gun towards the direction of the crowd and allegedly started firing, according to police.

“He shot three rounds on the second occasion and a bullet hit the leg of 18-year old Irshad, who is a KK Nagar resident and was present at the scene,” the police officials said. Eventually, outnumbered by the crowd, Suhail and his group retreated and fled from the area.

Speaking to TNM, a jurisdictional Mangalore (Ullal) police station official said that they have identified and arrested the other occupants of the vehicle. “However Suhail and car driver Basheer, who were injured in the commotion have been admitted to a local hospital. We have deployed Armed Reserve police along with the local officials in Ullal to maintain law and order,” he said.

Suhail has not been formally detained as yet since he is undergoing treatment, according to police.

Police said that they have recovered the gun and the bullet cartridges from the scene of crime and are determining whether Suhail has a valid licence. They also added that a probe is underway to find out whether Irshad, who had sustained bullet injuries, was the target or was a bystander who was caught in firing.

According to the police at present, both parties — Suhail and the locals residents — have filed counter-complaints against each other, and will further probe to get more details on the matter.

(This is a developing story)

Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)