17 March,2011 06:48 AM IST | | Bindiya Carmeline Thomas
Ex-BJP councilor's sons arrested along with friends after brawl erupts over non-payment of bill leading to stone pelting and attack on gang by local residents
A hostage situation of sorts broke out at a local pub in the city at 8.30 pm last night, over a group trying to get away without paying for their drinks. After enjoying several rounds of drinks amounting to Rs 950 at Balaji Bar and Restaurant in Kodigehalli, six men began to exit the place one by one while waiters were clueless to what was going on.
Ambushed: One of the victims admitted at M S Ramaiah hospital
Pic/Bindiya Carmeline Thomas
When the waiter serving them realised that the last man at the table was also about to leave, he asked him to pay the pending bill. The inebriated man created a scene and threatened to kill the waiter, by which time three beat constables from Kodigehalli police station were called in.
Meanwhile, the rest of the gang, along with seven others, returned and shut the entrance of the pub from outside and began to throw large stones through the windows. The sound of smashing glass and the commotion alerted residents of the area who surrounded the group and overpowered them. The attackers were severely beaten by the residents and taken to the hospital immediately after the incident.
Three of the accused identified as Callab Jackson, John Robert and Jose, sons of Ex-BJP councilor A R Mani, a former member of City Municipal Council and Sumath Raj, a friend was also among the arrested.
The attack on the pub left 12 victims, including customers and waiters with grievous injuries, and caused damages to the interiors amounting to Rs 80,000. C Vijay Kumar, the owner of the pub, said, "They used foul words and abused the waiters so we called the cops right away. But then the ones who left came back with more people and locked the doors."
Five of the 12 attackers were taken to Kodigehalli police station in the wee hours this morning, where the police interrogated them. A senior police official who refused to be named confirmed that the remaining attackers were still at large.
The official added, "They came all the way from Jalahalli. Luckily we caught them with the help of the local people there. Police personnel present in the place during the incident are not among the injured."
Of the waiters who were taken to M S Ramaiah Hospital last night, two have been identified as Raghavendra and Shiv Kumar, both of whom sustained head injuries.
H R Gopalappa, resident medical officer at the hospital, said, "One of the patients has a dislocated shoulder while another has injuries to his ear. All have lacerations on their scalp and faces, but are expected to be discharged in the morning."
