UDUPI: In an attempt of retaliation, a 50-year-old auto-rickshaw driver of Badagabettu in Udupi narrowly escaped a murder attempt near Athrady late on May 1.
The man who escaped the murder attempt has been identified as Abubakkar. Udupi SP Dr Arun K said that two men on a motorcycle followed the auto rickshaw driver before trying to attack him with a sword and bottle.
He said that the investigation conducted so far suggested the assault was an act of revenge for the murder of Suhas Shetty (30), who was hacked to death in Bajpe, Mangaluru, on May 1.
Earlier one Dinesh who was known to Abubakkar, made a rental request.
Abubakkar then took his auto rickshaw and moved around 11.15 pm on May 1. As he approached near gas petrol bunk on the main road in Athrady, two unidentified men on a motorcycle began trailing his vehicle.
According to the complaint given by Abubakkar, the suspects overtook his auto and attempted to stop him, and abused him.
When Abubakkar did not stop and drove further, he noticed the pillion rider holding a sword. One of them reportedly shouted in Tulu suggesting an intent to kill.
Fearing for his life, Abubakkar drove towards Shedigudde and stopped his auto rickshaw near a house. As he tried to escape by running, one of the assailants allegedly swung the sword at his head.
Abubakkar narrowly escaped from this assault. Another assailant hit a bottle at the front glass of the auto-rickshaw and damaged it.
As Abubakkar realised that the attackers intended to kill him, he jumped over a nearby compound wall and fled the scene.
Based on the complaint, a case has been registered at the Hiriyadka police station under sections 126(2), 109, 324(3), 352, 351(2) read with 3(5) of BNS.
Police later identified two assailants and arrested them. The arrested persons have been identified as Sandesh (31) of Bommarabettu, Hiriyadka, and Sushanth (32) of Bapuji Dharkas, Hiriyadka.
Both have been taken into custody and will be produced before the court. Further investigation is on, he said.