Mangaluru: The Bantwal Rural Police have arrested four persons for allegedly assaulting a person from Udupi district in Farangipet on Sunday for talking to a woman from another community.

The police gave the names of the accused as Umar Farooq (36) and Mohammed Iqbal (32), autorickshaw drivers, Afrath (28), a daily wage worker, and Mohammed Afreed (21), who is unemployed, all are from Farangipet.

Suresh from Udupi district was returning from Bantwal when he was allegedly assaulted. He stopped his car at Farangipet after noticing a woman he knew. As he was leaving after exchanging pleasantries, the group waylaid him and questioned him for talking to the woman. The group then assaulted Suresh. Police rushed to the spot and shifted Suresh to the Government Hospital in Bantwal and sent the woman home with her relatives.

Mr. Suresh filed a complaint on the same day. The police are on the look-out for other persons involved in the case.

The police have booked the accused under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint) 504 (insult intended to provoke breach of peace), and 144 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.