There were allegations of training to use firearms in the camp. No, not against any militant group in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, but the Karnataka branch of the Bajrang Dal, a youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a member of the Sangh Parivar.
It is alleged that Bajrang Dal’s training camp at a school in Ponnampet, Kodagu district of Karnataka, on May 5-11, provided training in physical fitness, running sticks as well as firearms. Controversy erupted when pictures of members of the organization were targeted in the training camp.
Karnataka Bajrang Dal leader and one of the organizers of the camp Raghu Sakleshpur has agreed to hold a training camp at Ponnampet school on Monday. “The workshop was organized to enhance the physical and mental capacity of our members,” he said.
Raghu claimed that there were no firearms in Shaurya’s workshop. He said, “In addition to Trishul initiation, there was a practice of running airguns in the training camp to increase concentration.” No license is required to purchase or operate an airgun. He said 116 members of the Bajrang Dal had participated in the one-week training camp.
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