NewIndpress

Bangalore, Sep 19: In an apparent reaction to Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi’s statements on Lord Rama and the Ramar Sethu controversy, miscreants pelted stones and hurled petrol bombs at his daughter’s house near Ragigudda in J P Nagar.

In another incident, which police said could be linked to the Ramar Sethu issue, two passengers on a Tamil Nadu luxury bus bound for Chennai from Bangalore were charred to death when miscreants set fire to it near Oxford Institutions under Bommnahalli Corporation limits on Tuesday night.

The bus driver, in his complaint said three to four people stopped the bus, asked the 26 passengers on board to alight and set fire to the bus. Apparently, the two who were charred to death, were asleep and neither the passengers nor the arsonists were aware of it.

During the attack on their house, Karunanidhi’s daughter Selvi and his son-in-law Selvam were away. A guard and a maid at the residence escaped unhurt during the incident. Security guard Gopalkrishna who was posted at the house said that around 7.45 pm on Tuesday, about 10-12 men aged between 20 and 30 years pelted stones and hurled petrol bombs at the house, shattering window panes and setting the doormat of the front door on fire. None of the attackers made any attempt to enter the house.

Police suspect the attackers to be members of a Hindu fundamentalist outfit. Late Tuesday night, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) issued a clarification saying they were not involved in the attack. Its spokesperson said RSS never indulged in such activities.

A stone wrapped in an orange cloth was recovered from the scene by the police, which contained a letter written in Kannada denouncing Karunadhi for his statements on Rama.

The letter also called for arrest of Union Minister for Shipping T R Baalu and warned of serious consequences for those who questioned Rama’s existence.

Police also said the attackers apparently shouted slogans like ‘Bharath Mata Ki Jai’. Sniffer dogs were brought to the scene. Selvi and Selvam are in Chennai attending a marriage.