Mangaluru: In connection with the case involving the physical and mental assault of a migrant worker after falsely accusing him of being a Bangladeshi national, Kavoor police arrested another accused on Wednesday. With this arrest, all four persons allegedly involved in the incident have now been taken into custody, police officials confirmed.

The arrested individual has been identified as Mohan (37), a resident of Kuloor. Earlier, police had arrested Ratheesh Das (32), Dhanush (24), and Sagar (24), all of whom are also residents of Kuloor. The arrests were made following a detailed investigation into the incident that triggered widespread concern over the safety and dignity of migrant workers.

Incident occurred while victim was returning from work

The incident took place on the evening of January 11, when the victim, Diljan Ansari, was returning home after completing his work for the day. Ansari, a native of Jharkhand, has been living and working in the city and surrounding areas for nearly 15 years and earns his livelihood as a mason.

According to the complaint, after alighting from a bus in the Kuloor area, Ansari was confronted by the accused. They allegedly abused him verbally, falsely accused him of being a Bangladeshi national, and subjected him to physical and mental harassment. The assault reportedly continued for some time, causing distress and fear to the victim.

Case registered at Kavoor Police Station

Following the incident, Ansari approached the Kavoor Police Station and lodged a formal complaint. Based on his statement, police registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to assault, intimidation and causing mental harassment.

Police sources said the complaint highlighted not only physical violence but also the humiliation and mental trauma caused by the false allegation regarding the victim’s nationality. The case drew attention to the challenges faced by migrant workers, who are often vulnerable to harassment and discrimination.

Arrests made after investigation

After registering the case, Kavoor police launched an investigation, which included recording statements from witnesses, examining CCTV footage from nearby locations and verifying other evidence. As a result of the investigation, three accused — Ratheesh Das, Dhanush and Sagar — were arrested on Tuesday.

The fourth accused, Mohan, was arrested on Wednesday after police traced his whereabouts and completed the necessary legal formalities. Officials said the arrests were carried out in a phased manner to ensure that sufficient evidence was collected against each accused.

With Mohan’s arrest, police confirmed that all four individuals named in the case have been secured and will be produced before the court.

Police stress zero tolerance towards such acts

Senior police officials stated that incidents involving harassment or assault of migrant workers are taken seriously and will be dealt with strictly as per law. They emphasised that no individual has the right to take the law into their own hands or target someone based on suspicion, identity or origin.

Police also urged the public to report any such incidents promptly and said awareness is being created among officers to ensure swift action in cases involving vulnerable sections of society, including migrant labourers.

Victim working in city for over a decade

Diljan Ansari has reportedly been working as a mason in the city and nearby areas for the past 15 years. People familiar with him described him as a regular worker who has been earning an honest livelihood and contributing to the local construction sector.

The false accusation and assault have sparked discussions among residents and labour groups about the need to protect migrant workers from harassment and profiling. Several activists have called for stricter enforcement of laws and sensitisation programmes to prevent such incidents.

Conclusion

The arrest of the fourth accused marks a key development in the case, with police completing action against all those allegedly involved in the assault. As the legal process moves forward, the case is expected to serve as a reminder that acts of violence, discrimination and vigilantism will not be tolerated, and that the safety and dignity of migrant workers must be upheld.