Mangaluru: In an incident that sent down shock waves in the city, three men in a car tried to assault with swords two young men on a motorbike on the busy K S Rao Road locality on Wednesday around noon.
Nikhil Shetty, a student of II PU in a college, had gone to Umamaheshwari temple in Attavar, as it was a Nag Panchami holiday. He met his friend Kaushik and Shanmukha. Kaushik had to attend court and he left from there.
Nikhil and Shanmukha too joined him at the court. As the case was adjourned, they left the court by bike and proceeded towards K S Rao Road. Three men, known to them and identified as Shailu Bajilakeri, Rahul Ullal and Choni Someshwar, followed them in a car and tried to knock down their bike.
As they fell down, the trio got down from the car and flashed swords at Nikhil, who escaped and jumped into the compound of SCDCC Bank. Then they targeted Shanmukha with the swords. A sword held by Shailu fell on the road. Rahul swung a sword at Shanmukha, who too ducked and ran towards City Centre mall.
Shanmukha shouted for help and passersby gathered. The men in car escaped in their car towards Hampankatta. Nikhil abandoned his bike and took a rickshaw to a hospital to have his injuries attended to. Kaushik is also said to have been injured.
Old enmity is said to be reason for attack. A case of murder attempt has been registered at the Bunder police station. Such an incident taking place in the heart of the business district in broad daylight has alarmed peace-loving citizens.