Udupi, February 1, 2026: A 25-year-old youth sustained severe injuries in a brutal machete and iron chair attack near Kalasanka on the night of January 30, following a minor altercation at a hotel earlier in the evening. Udupi City Police have registered a case of attempt to murder.

The complainant, Sharat Kundar (25), son of Shankar Kundar, resident of Chitpady Bailoor, Badagubettu, stated in his complaint that he, along with friends Dhruva, Silan Gagan, and Rohit, went to Hakuna Matata Hotel in Manipal for dinner around 9:00 PM on January 30. During the meal, his hand accidentally brushed against one of the accused, leading to a verbal argument.

Later, while returning home, Akshat Pai called Sharat and asked him to stop near PPC Cross to discuss the issue. As Sharat and his friends waited near Coastal Chicken shop on the roadside, around 11:30 PM, a Tata Safari and Mahindra Thar arrived. Akshat Pai, Shashank, and 6–7 others alighted and launched a sudden attack on Sharat with machete-like weapons and an iron chair, with the clear intention to kill him.

Sharat raised his hands to protect himself from a blow aimed at his head, resulting in deep cuts on his right palm, middle finger, and left wrist. The attackers shouted “We will not leave you alive” while assaulting him. Hearing the commotion, his friends raised an alarm, causing the group to flee.

Sharat was immediately rushed to Hi-Tech Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment as an inpatient. Udupi City Police have registered a case (Crime No. 23/2026) under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): 189(2), 191(2), 191(3), 118(2), 109, 351(2), and 190. Investigation is underway to identify and apprehend all involved.