Confetti blast at Shettar's event injures shutterbug's eye

Chief Minister Jagadeesh Shettar’s maiden visit to Mangalore became news for the wrong reasons on Saturday, when a photographer sustained injuries in his left eye when confetti was blast at the inauguration of the second ‘Statecon 2012’ convention organised by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India, at the T M A Pai convention hall. The injured is Suresh Vamanjoor, a photographer.

As Shettar pressed a remote control button to inaugurate the conference, fire crackers went off on the stage, which is a clear violation of rules as use of fire is not permitted on the stage.

‘Adding colour’

Simultaneously, the event managers, with the help of remote control, blast the confetti to add colour to the event.

Photographers who were standing next to the confetti, to click photographs of the chief minister, were caught unawares and suffered injuries.

While Suresh sustained eye injuries, two other press photographers too suffered due to the incident. Sudhakar Yermal sustained minor injuries below his ear, while Eshwar Raj’s shirt was torn.

Suresh was immediately rushed to an eye hospital in Ballalbagh and later shifted to the Government Wenlock Hospital. Minister for Urban Development Suresh Kumar visited him at the hospital.

As Suresh was facing the confetti (pieces of paper and mylar or metallic materials), they hit him directly. Mangalore North police inspector Vinay Gaonkar said cases had been registered against the organisers at the Barke police station, under Section 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances) and Section 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) against the organisers.

Superintendent of police Abhishek Goyal said event manager Sherin was arrested and later released on bail.