Man sets fire to police officer’s scooter, arrested

CHIKKABALLAPUR: A man, who had assaulted his brothers and created a ruckus in hospital, set fire to a new scooter belonging to an assistant police inspector for giving him a piece of his mind. The incident occurred at Vivekananda Nagar in Gudibande town in the district early on Wednesday morning.

Kaleemullah, a fruit merchant, had assaulted his brothers over some domestic issue. Later, he also created trouble at a hospital where they were admitted. Assistant Police Inspector Nanjunda Sharma and team, who were on night patrol, visited the hospital on receiving information and tried to tried to pacify him.

The arrested Kaleemullah and (right) the charred scooter belonging to the ASI.

Kaleemullah escaped from the hospital, went to his brothers’ house and smashed the windscreen of a car. He even tried to set fire to its tyres. The police, who visited the house, warned him and sent him away.

Angered by this, Kaleemullah followed the ASI, who was returning home early in the morning after work. When the ASI went inside his house, Kaleemullah poured petrol on the ASI’s new scooter parked outside, and set it on fire. The vehicle was completely charred in the incident.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Nanjunda Sharma said he brought the incident to the attention of his higher-ups after which the accused was arrested.

“I was on night duty and we received a call from the government hospital about a person creating nuisance and threatening doctors and nurses. We visited the hospital and tried to convince Kaleemullah, a native of Lepakshi, not to create trouble, but he tore his clothes and rolled on the floor. He then escaped from the rear of the hospital building. I came home for a brief while and when I came out again, my scooter was almost completely charred”, the ASI said.

The Gudibande police have since arrested Kaleemullah and registered a case.