Mangaluru: A wave of tension following recent murders in Dakshina Kannada has triggered anxiety and suspicion among citizens — leading to an unusual incident near Ullal on Friday morning.
In a case of mistaken intentions, an autorickshaw driver hastily filed a police complaint fearing an attack, which later turned out to be a complete misunderstanding.
According to the Ullal police, the incident took place around 5 AM when a passenger from Ernakulam, Kerala, arrived at Mangaluru Central Railway Station and boarded an autorickshaw headed to Ryshivana Church. The visitor was on a three-day trip and was using Google Maps for navigation while seated inside the rain-covered auto.
The driver of the first auto, an Ayyappa Vruthadhari, grew suspicious of the passenger’s movements and tried to flag down another autorickshaw for what appeared to be assistance.
However, the second driver, who belongs to a different faith, misread the signal. Given the communal unease and seeing the first driver’s religious appearance, he suspected a possible communal assault was about to occur.
The rain and the fully enclosed auto only added to his apprehension. In a state of panic, the second driver rushed to the Ullal police station and lodged a complaint fearing for his life.
Police quickly investigated and confirmed that the entire situation stemmed from a series of misinterpretations, with no real threat present.
This incident highlights how communal tension can deeply impact day-to-day interactions, often leading to unnecessary panic.
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