Prohibitory orders issued as per Section 144, Home Minister appeals for peace
Shivamogga district administration imposed prohibitory charges in the Shivamogga and Bhadravati cities on February 21 and 22 due to the rise in the incidents of stoning and burning vehicles followed by the murder of a Hindutva activist in the Shivamogga city on Sunday night (February 20).
The prohibitory orders have been issued as Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. On Sunday night, a group of unknown persons attacked Harsha, 26, at Bharati Colony around 10 p.m. He was taken to Mc Gann Hospital, where he lost a battle to the injuries. Harsha, a resident of Seegehatti in Shivamogga, is associated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). VHP is one of the organizations comprising the ‘Sangh Parivar’ of which the ruling BJP is a part.
After the spreading of the murder news, incidents of stone-pelting and vehicles being set on fire were noticed in some parts of Shivamogga. The situation is being monitored by the seniors, and the Police have been posted in sensitive areas.
On February 21 morning, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said, “Harsha was a Hindu activist and volunteer of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).” He requested the people of Shivamogga to maintain peace and calm, assuring them that the Police would arrest the culprits and make sure they were punished.
Later on, after a post-mortem at Mc Gann Hospital, Harsha’s dead body was handed over to his family members. Hundreds of youths carrying saffron flags and chanting slogans praising Harsha followed the vehicle carrying his mortal remains on bikes.
Some stone-pelting incidents took place on the road where Harsha’s mortal remains were being carried. Stones were thrown on some shops also. This resulted in damage to many vehicles.
Holiday declared for schools and colleges
A holiday was declared for schools and colleges in the city on February 21 by Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Selvamani R. In Bhadravati, a holiday was declared for schools (up to Class 10) in Bhadravati city limits.
However, classes in rural areas are supposed to continue. The preparatory examinations of SSLC, scheduled to be held in various centers in both cities, have been postponed.
According to DC, “The situation is tense. The administration is trying to prevent it from getting worse. A holiday has been declared for schools and colleges”.
K S Eshwarappa blamed the ‘goondas.’
‘Goondas’ of a particular community were blamed by K.S. Eshwarappa, Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister. He alleged that recent statements of D.K. On the saffron flag issue, Shivakumar, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, had ‘triggered’ the perpetrators of the crime.
Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru on February 21, the Minister said that Mr. Shivakumar ‘misled’ people by spreading ‘false information’ that the national tricolor was lowered to hoist a saffron flag on a college campus. Later, he claimed to have information on the trucks in which saffron shawls were brought from Surat, Gujarat.
The Minister said the BJP and the Hindu organizations would stand by the victim’s family.
‘Personal issue could be the reason.’
He was reacting to the allegations, KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar said the State Government should book a case against Mr. Eshwarappa and arrest him so that normalcy could be restored. Mr. Shivakumar said, “He has to make comments against me to survive in the party.”
Stating that statements on the flag issue had nothing to do with the murder, Mr. Shivakumar said, “We do not want to politicize the issue. We have been protesting against Mr. Eshwarappa, demanding that he be sacked from the cabinet. According to information available so far, the murder in Shivamogga may have taken place over some personal issue. Let the Police probe the case and arrest those involved in the murder.”
‘He was an RSS volunteer.’
Speaking to media persons in Shivamogga on February 21, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said the Police had got clues about the perpetrators. “As of now, there is no information about the involvement of any organization in the murder. A group of four-five people is said to have been involved. They were attempted to track down by the Police.
Harsha was a Hindu activist and volunteer of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),” he said. The Home Minister said that there was an attempt to attack him earlier. He is named in a couple of cases, he added.
“I visited the mortuary and spoke to Harsha’s two sisters and his parents. It is an unfortunate incident. It should not have happened. Following the murder, there were incidents of stone-pelting and bikes being set on fire. I appeal to people not to indulge in violence.
We are also outraged by the murder. However, damaging public property is not the solution. We are working towards arresting the culprits and punishing them,” the Home Minister said.
He said the government would decide on offering compensation for the victim’s family. He would discuss the issue with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and announce the settlement.
The Home Minister said Shivamogga city is calm. KSRP platoons and the Rapid Action Force had been deployed in the town. Senior police officers, including those who worked in Shivamogga earlier, had been called to take steps necessary to keep the situation under control, he added.
Edited By : Mahek Vaja
Published By : K. Bindhiya Prarthana
