WAYANAD: Police tracked down the car that dragged and injured an Adivasi youth across the road in Mananthavady. The accused are Harshid and his friends from Kaniyambetta, Wayanad. The vehicle was recovered from Kaniyambetta. Police will go ahead with steps to arrest the accused at the earliest. Earlier, the police intensified their search for the Celerio car, KL 52 H 8733.

Mathan, who intervened in a dispute between two groups, was brutally assaulted by the group in the car. The locals said the youth was dragged for about half a kilometre by holding his hand to the car door.

A verbal dispute broke out between two groups who had come to see the check dam at Payyampally Koodal Kadavu in Mananthavady. Hearing the commotion, an argument broke out between the locals and tourists who had come to intervene in the matter. Mathan was dragged across the road when he tried to stop the gang from attacking a local native who was also a teacher.