Mangaluru, Oct 15 (PTI) One person has been arrested in connection with the attempt to attack Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja by following his car, police said on Saturday.

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District superintendent of police Rishikesh Bhagwan Sonawane said Riyaz (38), a resident of Falnir in the city was arrested and the Scorpio vehicle allegedly used for the crime has been seized.

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The accused has been booked under sections 341, 504 and 506 of the IPC.

The SP said there were no criminal antecedents registered against the accused. No weapon was found in his possession when he was taken into custody. Further investigation is progressing.

Poonja's car driver had filed a complaint with the Bantwal rural police station that a few miscreants waylaid the official vehicle, brandished swords and tried to attack the MLA, while he was on his way to Belthangady on Thursday.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)