Representative image of Yakshagana artiste
Credit: iStock Photo
Udupi: Nithin Kumar (31), a Yakshagana artiste from Nadsalu village in Kaup, has accused three people of allegedly keeping him captive and assaulting him.
In a complaint to Padubidri police, he said that he had borrowed a loan at interest from the accused, Sachin, in 2020. Despite repaying the principal and interest regularly, the accused Sachin claimed that the complainant failed to settle the loan within stipulated time.
On January 22, Sachin, along with his father Kushalanna, summoned the complainant near a bar in Padubidri under the pretext of discussing the issue. They then took him to their house in Udyavara in a car at around 1:15 pm.
Once there, the complainant was allegedly held captive and assaulted. Sachin, Kushalanna, and another individual, who claimed to be associated with a finance company, arrived at the house. The three of them allegedly beat the complainant with a cane, typically used for Kambala, on his back, head, and legs. They also allegedly kicked him, slapped him, and forced him to sign on blank bond papers. The complainant was released later in the evening.
As the complainant had to attend a Yakshagana performance in Puttur on the night, he returned home on the following day. Following the incident, the complainant sought treatment at a hospital in Padubidri for his injuries.
Based on the complaint, the Padubidri police have registered a case under Sections 115(2), 118(1), 308(5), 127(8), 351(3), and 352, along with Section 3(5) of the BNS Act.
It is said that victim Nithin was a Yakshagana artiste with Sasihithlu Sri Bhagavathi Yakshagana Mela.