An alleged attempt to murder a young woman by pushing her into the river from Betri Bridge near Hodavada in Virajpet taluk has come to light several days after the incident. The accused, identified as Afridi Annuvata, an ambulance driver from Virajpet, has been arrested along with his accomplice and remanded to judicial custody.
According to the complaint, Afridi allegedly befriended a young woman from Hodavada near Kottamudi, gained her trust and reportedly took away her hard-earned money. When the woman demanded that her money be returned, the accused allegedly refused. The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of June 29, 2026, at around 2 a.m., when the accused allegedly took the woman from her house to Betri Bridge and attempted to kill her by pushing her into the river below.
Hearing the young woman’s cries for help during the night, local residents rushed to the spot and assisted her in reaching the riverbank safely. On noticing the arrival of the locals, the accused allegedly fled the scene in his vehicle.
The residents immediately alerted the police by calling 112. Police personnel who arrived at the spot arrested Afridi and his accomplice and subsequently registered a case before producing them before the court. Both accused were later remanded to judicial custody.
The incident remained out of the public eye for several days before coming to light. Police have registered a case against the accused under various sections, including those relating to attempt to murder and other applicable provisions.
Following reports of the incident, members of the Hindu Jagran Vedike and other pro-Hindu organisations visited the victim’s residence and later met the Deputy Superintendent of Police, urging the authorities to take stringent action against the accused.
The organisation alleged that there have been repeated incidents in which economically and socially vulnerable Hindu families have been targeted, adversely affecting the lives of Hindu women.
Kodagu District Coordinator of Hindu Jagran Vedike Boje Gowda appealed to the public to immediately inform the organisation whenever such incidents come to light. He strongly condemned what the organisation described as the Hodavada “love jihad” and attempted murder case.
He further stated that the organisation would extend all possible support to the aggrieved family. Boje Gowda also alleged that the failure of the police department to take stringent action against offenders has contributed to the recurrence of such incidents in Kodagu.
