Mysuru: In his statement to the Narasimharaja (NR) Police, based on which the FIR was registered, attack victim Raghu said, he is a contract driver-helper with the Mysuru City Corporation’s ‘Abhaya’ vehicle unit.

He reports for night duty at 9.30 pm and works until 6 am, cutting trees, clearing footpaths and removing unauthorised banners. On Oct. 4, Raghu joined driver Nikhil and co-worker K. Raghu in an ‘Abhaya’ vehicle to clear banners near FTS Ambedkar Circle in N.R. Mohalla.

Around 10.50 pm, as a Ganesha procession passed through the area, the team parked the vehicle to the side. One of the members walked ahead to check for illegal banners.

At about 11.15 pm, two youths approached Raghu, questioned him about his identity and accused him of supporting another group. Though he told them that he was a Corporation worker, they threatened him.

Suddenly, one of them began hitting Raghu. When Nikhil intervened, the other youth attacked Raghu with a sharp object, stabbing him on the cheek, chest and right hand while threatening to kill him, the complaint stated.

Nikhil managed to push the assailant away, following which the attackers fled. He later took Raghu to K.R. Hospital for treatment.