Kodava Samaja Youth Wing demands registering a murder case; warns of protests

Ponnampet: Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing President Chammattira Praveen Uthappa has demanded impartial probe into the death of social activist and well-known resident of Balele Podamada Uthappa. 

He alleged that attempts were made by certain vested interests to twist the facts of the case. Uthappa died of an assault but now attempts are being made to bury the murder case giving it a COVID twist. Praveen Uthappa has warned of protests if the investigation goes off-track. 

Podamada Uthappa (82) breathed his last on Monday evening at a private hospital in Mangaluru. He was admitted there after he was allegedly assaulted by three youths in front of a bar in Balele on Nov. 18. After the assault, Uthappa fell to the ground and was rushed to Mangaluru for treatment. 

The post-mortem was conducted in Mangaluru in the presence of Gonikoppal Inspector Ramareddy. Uthappa’s son Podamada Pradeep Karumbaiah has lodged a complaint in Ponnampet Police Station against Santosh, Pratap and Kamaraj of Balele for allegedly causing the death of his father. As if to retaliate, the three youths have lodged an atrocity case as a counter measure. 

According to eyewitnesses, on Nov. 18, Podamada Uthappa’s car was allegedly waylaid by Santosh, Pratap and Kamaraj and Uthappa was allegedly assaulted in front of a bar. Two more persons who accompanied Uthappa came to his rescue and avoided a major fight. But in the process, Uthappa was allegedly pushed to the ground by one of the accused. 

Uthappa’s ribs and a bone near his torso were broken and after first aid, he was shifted to Mangaluru where he died on Monday evening. Doctors in Mangaluru had reportedly told Uthappa’s family that he was suffering from a virus attack and as such, surgery cannot be performed to rectify his broken bones. Doctors advised the family that the surgeries can be performed only after Uthappa recovers from the viral disease. 

Meanwhile, Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing President Chammattira Praveen Uthappa has said that certain vested interests are trying to hush up the case by publicising that Podamada Uthappa died of virus attack. “Due to his old age, Uthappa could not sustain the injuries and he died. Now certain people are twisting the case to save Santosh, Pratap and Kamaraj from being accused in a murder case. The Police must treat this as a murder case and arrest the accused,” he demanded. 

Praveen Uthappa has alleged that the atrocity case booked by the three youths was to mislead the case. “It has become a habit for certain sections in Kodagu to fix people in false atrocity cases. After lodging atrocity cases, innocent people are blackmailed for money and even properties. This trend must stop. Podamada Uthappa was murdered and action must be taken under relevant sections of the IPC,” he said. 

Praveen Uthappa added that widespread protests will be held in Kodagu if Police bow to the pressure of vested interests. He demanded the immediate quashing of the atrocity case.