Updated

Mysuru, Mar 14 (PTI): A BJP worker was hacked to death by unidentified assailants here, leading to a bandh marked by stray violence in the city today.

Raju (32) was attacked with machetes and other lethal weapons when he was drinking tea in a roadside stall with his friend yesterday evening. He was rushed to K R Hospital where he was declared brought dead, police said.

Demanding immediate arrest of culprits, BJP called for a Mysuru bandh today. Angry protesters set an autorickshaw afire and stoned a police jeep and several buses, besides forcing closure of shops, police said.

The protesters ransacked several shops in Devaraja Market and deflated tyres of buses during the bandh, forcing police to lathicharge them at two places.

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in the city.

In Mangaluru, Home Minister G Parameshwara said all steps have been taken to arrest the assailants soon and no political colour should be given to the incident.

State DGP Om Prakash said additional police force, including Karnataka State Reserve Police, had been deployed to maintain law and order and appealed for communal harmony.

Earlier Report

Mysuru: RSS activist hacked to death - BJP calls for bandh

Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)

Mysuru, Mar 14: A resident of Kyatamaranahalli Extension here named Raju (32), also known as RSS Raju, was hacked to death by a gang near Udayagiri signal in broad daylight on Sunday March 13. In protest against this incident, city unit of BJP has called for city bandh on Monday March 14.

(in group clashes after the murder)

Raju was active both in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Sri Ram Sene. He was having tea with a friend in Vinayaka Tea Stall near Udayagiri extension when a gang armed with machetes and swords attacked him indiscriminately, causing his instant death. It is suspected that differences over the installation of an idol in a temple that was constructed long back, or Raju's stand against Madrasas would have been behind this murder.

Situation in Udayagiri and Kyatamaranahalli extensions in the city turned tense immediately after this ghastly murder. A large number of RSS and pro-Hindu activists registered their protest by mobbing the city police commissioner. The police have formed four teams to investigate the incident, and two have been taken into custody for questioning.

Raju was sitting in the tea stall with his friend, Jaikumar, on Sunday evening, when a few miscreants who arrived at the spot in motor bikes launched attack on him with lethal weapons. The gang fled after the act, leaving Raju's head cut into pieces. Jaikumar, who was taken aback at this sudden attack, fled from the scene.

The police have questioned owner of the tea stall as well as Jaikumar for questioning. They also propose to gather video clippings from nearby closed circuit television cameras including that of an ATM and a mall located nearby, to zero in on the culprits. Udayagiri police station inspector, P P Santosh, has undertaken investigation under the guidance of city police commissioner, B Dayanand. Dayanand was surrounded by angry Hindu activists when he arrived at the mortuary of K R Hospital here for inspecting the body. A person belonging to another community, who was seen capturing this incident in his cellphone, was attacked by pro-Hindu activists. Policemen rushed to his rescue.

A temple dedicated to Lord Ganapati had been built at Kyatamaranahalli Extension about two decades ago, but the Lord's idol had not been installed because of some controversy. After two groups clashed over this issue, district administration, with the involvement of local people's representatives and RSS leaders, had recently arrived at a solution to the problem. An idol of Lord Ganesha was installed in the temple a week back under the leadership of Raju. In the recent past, Raju had organized dharna, protesting against increasing number of Madrassas in Udayagiri and Kyamaranahalli Extensions, and handed over petition to the government.

Both the above incidents had the potential of creating enemies for Raju, and one of these groups would have eliminated him, sources believe.