Coimbatore: Seven guest workers have been arrested for assaulting their friend, who asked one of them not to take fish while cooking, near Sidhapudur in the city. The victim is undergoing treatment in a private hospital.
The Kattoor police identified the accused as Pabithra Kumar Doley, Bikash Patir, Rangtang Doley, Nagen Panging, Shinny Miri, Arun Doley and Abai Tayung, all natives of Assam.
According to a police officer, the victim, K Gakul Deka, 23, also a native of Assam, was residing with the seven at a multi-storeyed building at Sidhapudur. He has been working with a private hospital for the past six months.
“Around 10.30pm on Monday, when Deka was cooking fish for dinner, Bikash took a piece of fish and ate it. Deka asked him not to do as it would not be sufficient for all,” the officer said.
Bikash, the officer said, slapped Deka and left the room. “Enraged, Deka grabbed an iron rod and walked towards Bikash. On seeing this, the remaining six surrounded him, snatched the iron rod and started assaulting him. They threatened him to vacate the room immediately and left the place, leaving him in a pool of blood.”
Deka called up one of the colleagues at the private hospital and the latter took him to a government hospital. He was later shifted to the private hospital.
Based on Deka’s complaint, the Kattoor police registered a case under Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (armed with weapons), 294(b) (using obscene words in public places), 323 (hurting), 324 (hurting using a weapon) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation) of India Penal Code and arrested the seven on Tuesday. They were produced before a judicial magistrate, who remanded them in judicial custody.