A tribal youth was dragged along a road in Wayanad's Mananthavady on the evening of Sunday, December 15, after he intervened in a quarrel between two tourist groups. The incident occurred around 5:30 pm. The victim, identified as Mathan, sustained injuries to his arms and legs and is receiving treatment at the Government Medical College, Mananthavady.
The incident came to light after a video aired by Malayalam news channels, showing Mathan being dragged by a car with his hand still holding onto the door. It is believed that the group involved in the incident hails from Kuttippuram in Malappuram district, though the identities of those in the vehicle remain unknown.
According to reports, the dispute initially arose between two groups of tourists who had gathered at the Koodalkadavu check dam in Payyampally. The groups were also reportedly involved in verbal arguments with local residents. Sources suggest that the altercation escalated when one of the individuals in the group attempted to strike another with a stone. Mathan intervened to prevent the incident, but the group responded by dragging him for around 500 meters.
An eyewitness, who spoke to the media, confirmed the sequence of events. "There were four young men in the car who were involved in a dispute with the occupants of another vehicle. When one of them tried to hit another person with a stone, Mathan intervened. That's when they dragged him," the eyewitness said.
The Mananthavady police have launched an investigation, tracing the vehicle’s registration number, KL 52 H 8733, a Maruti Suzuki Celerio, visible in the video. A case of attempted murder has been registered.