Madikeri: A group of youth shot at a pickup vehicle transporting cattle, and reportedly assaulted two persons at Kaggodlu in the taluk on Sunday.

According to the police, the victims are driver Abdul Salam (40) and P A Basheer (35) of Kondangeri in Madikeri taluk. Salam has suffered serious head injuries and has been shifted to Mangaluru for treatment.

Suspecting that the vehicle was transporting two cows that had been stolen from the house of Ganapathi at Kaggodlu, a group of youth tried stop the pick up vehicle. When the driver refused to stop the vehicle, a member of the group shot at the vehicle and ordered the driver and his associates to alight from the vehicle. After the latter alighted, they was beaten black and blue, while the glass of the vehicle was damaged.

SDPI workers and relatives of the assault victims, however, rubbished the accusation that the cattle was stolen. “Basheer is a farmer and had purchased the cattle from Ganapathi for ploughing. The telephonic conversation between Ganapathi and Basheer can be verified. The cattle was being transported, when the youth assaulted Basheer and the driver and also attacked the vehicle,” they insisted.

On the allegation of attempt to murder by shooting, the police have registered a case against Kumar, Madhu Mohan of Kaggodlu, Raja, Vittal of Hakkathoor, Jithesh from Mekeri, and Balakrishna from Biligiri.

Ganapathi, meanwhile, has filed a theft case against Basheer and Salam accusing them of stealing his cattle.