Attackers are friends, nothing political, says auto driver who claimed assault over voting for BJP

SHIVAMOGGA: In a shocking twist to the incident where an autorickshaw driver had claimed that he was attacked and his vehicle damaged for having voted for the BJP, he claimed on Tuesday that he was drunk and that those who attacked him at Sominakoppa were in fact his friends.

Only yesterday, the auto driver had created much drama at the SP’s office claiming that he was assaulted for voting for the BJP.

Only on Monday, he created much drama at the office of the superintendent of police in the presence of BJP leader K S Eshwarappa. With tears in his eyes, he even fell at Eshwarappa’s feet. The BJP leader had even given him Rs 20,000 to get the vehicle fixed and for his medical expenses.

On Tuesday, Congress leader H C Yogish, who lost the election, and a few other Muslim leaders visited the Vinoba Nagar police station and inquired with the auto driver Harish Rao Ghorpade. The auto driver claimed that those who assaulted him were his friends and that he was driving his autorickshaw after having drinks.

The driver’s medical test was done; (right) the damaged auto.

“While reversing from the liquor store, my autorickshaw hit my friend’s motorcycle and it got badly damaged. This led to the assault and damage to my vehicle. I told him I would get his motorcycle fixed, but he assaulted me and damaged my autorickshaw. There is no politics involved”, he claimed.