HINDUTVA MEN ARRESTED FOR POISONING SCHOOL WATER TANK TO TARGET MUSLIM PRINCIPAL IN INDIA’S KARNATAKA

Mon 04 August 2025:

In a disturbing incident in Belagavi district of Karnataka, a member of the Sri Rama Sena allegedly poisoned the drinking water at a government school in an attempt to oust its Muslim principal, leaving several children aged between seven and ten seriously ill, the News Minute reported.

The Soundatti Police Station registered a case under Sections 110 (culpable homicide) and 125(a) (endangering life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and launched an investigation into the incident after Suleman Gorinaik, the headmaster of the Government Lower Primary School in Janata Colony, Hoolikatte village, filed a complaint.

Sagar Patil, the taluk president of Shriram Sena, along with two others identified as Naganagowda Patil, and Krishna Madara, has been arrested for poisoning the drinking water of school children to tarnish the reputation of Suleman Gorinaik, a Muslim headmaster.

__________________________________________________________________________

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAtNxX8fewmiFmN7N22

__________________________________________________________________________

It was learned that a student had poured a commonly used insecticide into the school’s water tank, allegedly at the behest of a man named Krishna Madara, who lured the child with chocolates and money to carry out the act, after which several children, aged between seven and ten, fell sick on July 14.

Police have alleged that Sagara Patil, the Saundatti taluk president of the Sri Rama Sene, was the mastermind behind the incident.

Belagavi Superintendent of Police Bhimshankar Guled told the media that Patil’s aim was to tarnish the reputation of Suleman Gorinaik, a Muslim headmaster who had been serving at the Government Lower Primary School for 13 years.

“Sagara, affiliated with the Sri Rama Sene, wanted Suleman Gorinaik transferred. The investigation revealed that the incident was deliberately planned to malign his image,” Bhimshankar stated on Saturday.

Bhimshankar Guled confirmed that Sagara Patil was the prime accused and had been plotting the act for over two months.

According to the police, Sagara exploited personal information about his driver, Krishna Madara, who was in a relationship with a woman outside his caste, to blackmail him into buying the insecticide and using a child to contaminate the water. He also roped in his relative, Naganagouda.

“It’s deeply unfortunate,” Bhimshankar said, adding, “These are young men, at an age when they should be contributing to nation-building. Instead, they committed a heinous act and used an innocent minor to do so. That child was manipulated, his innocence exploited for a vile purpose.”

He also confirmed that the children who fell ill are now recovering.

The Sri Rama Sene, the group linked to the accused, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist outfit based in Karnataka.

Founded by Pramod Muthalik, a former member of the RSS and Bajrang Dal, the group rose to national infamy in 2009 when its members violently attacked women at a pub in Mangaluru. Since then, it has been associated with incidents of moral policing, targeting interfaith relationships, and anti-cow slaughter campaigns.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly condemned the incident calling it a horrifying consequence of growing “religious fundamentalism.”

“Religious fundamentalism and communal hatred can lead to heinous acts, and this incident, which could have resulted in the massacre of innocent children, is a testament to that,” he said.

Invoking the legacy of the Sharanas, Siddaramaiah said, “In the land of the Sharanas, how could such cruelty and hatred arise? Even now, I find it hard to believe this has happened.”

He also took aim at the BJP and right-wing leaders, stating, “BJP leaders who sow hatred in society in the name of religion to cook their political broth should introspect.”

“Will Pramod Muthalik take responsibility for this incident? Will BY Vijayendra or R Ashoka?” he asked, demanding accountability from those who support what he called “socially destructive acts.”

The Chief Minister underscored the threat of all forms of extremism, stating, “All forms of fanaticism and fundamentalism are dangerous to human society.”

He reaffirmed that a special task force has been formed to curb hate speeches and riots, and that “all possible legal measures are being taken against such elements.”

ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಸವದತ್ತಿ ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಹೂಲಿಕಟ್ಟಿ ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಮುಖ್ಯೋಪಾಧ್ಯಾಯರು ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಸಮುದಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದವರು, ಅವರನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮ ಊರಿನಿಂದ ಬೇರೆಡೆಗೆ ವರ್ಗಾವಣೆ ಮಾಡಿಸಬೇಕೆಂಬ ದುರುದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದ ಶಾಲಾಮಕ್ಕಳ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರಿಗೆ ವಿಷ ಹಾಕಿದ ಶ್ರೀರಾಮ ಸೇನೆಯ ತಾಲೂಕು ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಸಾಗರ ಪಾಟೀಲ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಒಟ್ಟು ಮೂವರನ್ನು…

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 3, 2025

“I still believe that the number of people who wish to live together in harmony is a hundred times greater than the number of communalists,” he said while also praising the police for foiling the “evil plot” and said he trusts the judiciary to deliver justice.

This article is republished from Maktoob Media. Read the original article.