Four persons have been arrested for allegedly murdering Hindu activist 32-year-old Deepak Rao at Katipalla in the coastal town of Mangaluru on Wednesday. The brutal murder of Deepak Rao has sent shock waves and the right wing organisations have demanded an NIA probe.
According to Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, four persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of Deepak Rao and police are further investigating the matter to ascertain the details about the arrested persons. He said on Thursday that the coastal town was peaceful and police have taken all measures to prevent any untoward incidents.
He said, “Four people have been arrested in the murder of Deepak Rao in Mangaluru. Two were shot at and are presently recovering in the hospital. Police are enquiring whether they belonged to PFI or any other organisation. I condemn the incident. By evening we will come to know all the details. Body has been cremated”. “The Government has announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the deceased. I request all the parties to cooperate in maintaining the peace at Mangaluru,” he added.
He also said that the Congress party does not have any link with PFI as alleged by the BJP. The Home Minister said only 11 Hindu activists have been killed in the communal violence.
The deceased has been identified as Deepak, an executive in a mobile SIM cards distribution shop. Police said the political affiliation of the victim was not immediately known.
The State BJP came down heavily on the ruling Congress Government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for deteriorating law and order especially murders of Hindu activists in coastal districts.
Strongly condemning the “cold-blooded murder”, BJP leaders R Ashok and Ashwathnarayana demanded NIA probe into it. They charged that the Congress Government in the State had allowed “jehadi forces” to have a field day and to indulge in “wanton killings” of Hindu workers in pursuance of its ‘vote-bank politics’ and minority appeasement.
With this heinous killing, the number of Hindutva workers who have fallen to the ‘murderous agenda of jehadi forces’ has risen to 22, they said.
The costal district of Mangaluru a communally volatile and sensitive district has been witnessing a spate of violence in the poll bound Karnataka.
Many leaders, including VHP Karnataka South President MB Puranik, MlC Ganesh Karnik, BJP leader Satyajith, former Ministers B Nagaraja Shetty and Krishna J Palemar and others were present.
Meanwhile, shops and establishments in and around Surathkal including Katipalla and Krishnapura, remained closed throughout the day.
Meanwhile in Hassan Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the Home Minister cannot be asked to resign for everything. BJP has demand that Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy must step down owning responsibility for the murder of Hindu activist Deepak Rao in Mangaluru on Wednesday.
He said, “The incident must not have taken place. All lives are important and the guilty must be punished. The police have already arrested four people and investigations are on. The BJP is responsible for all the communal violence in the State. They are the ones spreading bitterness in society,” the CM added.
BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa accused Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Minister Ramanth Rai of ‘having a hand in the murder of Hindu activist Deepak Rao in Mangaluru on Wednesday.
“Reign of bloodbath continues unabated in the Congress-ruled Karnataka. Hindutva workers are dying like Guinea pigs,” said a statement issued by the State BJP. The saffron party, apart from accusing the Popular Front of India (PFI) for the murder, has sought an NIA probe into the matter.
The Mangaluru police chased and arrested Naushad, Rizwan, Pinky Nawaz, Nirshaan on suspicion of committing the crime. The motive behind the murder is yet to be established.