INDIA: VIOLENCE ERUPTS AFTER RIGHT WING BAJRANG DAL WORKER KILLED IN KARNATAKA’S SHIVAMOGGA

Mon 21 February 2022:

Vehicles were set on fire and isolated incidents of stone-pelting were reported as tension spread in Karnataka’s Shivamogga town over the murder of a member of right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal.

Harsha, a 26-year-old Bajrang Dal member who worked as a tailor, was stabbed by unidentified persons around 9 pm last night. He was rushed to hospital but could not survive.

After the attack, several vehicles in the area were set on fire and police deployed heavy force to prevent a flare-up. The administration has imposed curbs on public gatherings and ordered that schools and colleges will stay shut. Despite the curbs, a large crowd of Bajrang Dal supporters accompanied the youth’s body as it was taken home.

Attacks reported on business establishments believed to be owned by a section, in Shivamogga, in the aftermath of Bajrang Dal member Harsha’s murder. Police presence is beefed up in the area. ⁦@TheQuint⁩ pic.twitter.com/wvyHeIftrH

— Nikhila Henry (@NikhilaHenry) February 21, 2022

Police and state reserve personnel deployed in Shivamogga where a Bajrang Dal member, Harsha, was reportedly murdered by unknown persons. Incidents of stone pelting and vehicle burning were reported as Bajrang Dal members held a funeral procession. ⁦@TheQuint⁩ pic.twitter.com/C4GxPnIUIZ

— Nikhila Henry (@NikhilaHenry) February 21, 2022

State Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has said the probe so far has not revealed any link between the murder and the hijab controversy. “Hijab issue has nothing to do with this incident. It has happened for different reasons. Shivamogga is a sensitive city,” he told the media.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai has said police have found clues during their investigation and are working on them.

However, Karnataka’s Rural Development minister KS Eshwarappa has accused state Congress chief DK Shivakumar of instigating the killing with comments he made at the height of the hijab protests.

Funeral procession taken out by Bajrang Dal in Shivamogga after the organisation’s member Harsha was reportedly murdered by unknown persons. Tension prevails. ⁦⁦@TheQuint⁩ pic.twitter.com/HS2xrs8GEF

— Nikhila Henry (@NikhilaHenry) February 21, 2022

The minister described Harsha as an honest man. “Muslim goons murdered him. Recently, DK Shivakumar claimed that the national flag was replaced with saffron flag, and around 50 lakh saffron shawls were ordered from a factory in Surat for the anti-hijab protest. Goondaism increased after he made these statements,” he said.

Responding to Mr Eshwarappa’s remarks, Mr Shivakumar said he was a “mad man”. “Siddaramaiah has said that there is no connection between his tongue and his mind. The BJP leadership should sack him,” he said.

Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, has demanded that state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra must step down over the “failure” of law and order in the state.

“No Hijab Link Yet”: Karnataka Minister Amid Bajrang Dal Member Murder Row

Read here: https://t.co/ZykOap0ewu pic.twitter.com/rP3gn8Vifh

— Media NGO (@MediaNGO_org) February 21, 2022

A police officer the NDTV spoke to has said that the attack seems to have been carried out by four people. Denying reports linking the murder to the hijab row, the officer said Harsha knew the assailants and this seems to be the result of an old rivalry.

Speaking to NDTV, Bajrang Dal state convenor Raghu Sakleshpur has said they were “not happy” with the police action in the case. “He was an active member. We will soon decide the next course of action.”

Bajrang Dal worker killed, tension in Karnataka’s Shivamogga

NDTV’s Sreeja MS reports pic.twitter.com/GPXpAIFGtp

— Media NGO (@MediaNGO_org) February 21, 2022

The Karnataka High Court last week had issued an interim order banning any religious attire, including hijab, to schools and colleges in the state until the matter was resolved in court.

The decision has sparked tensions across the State, including Belagavi, Yadgir, Bellary, Chitradurgam and Shivamogga districts, where hijab-wearing Muslim women have demanded entry into the classrooms saying that the order was an attack on their religious freedom.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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