Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Updated

Udupi, Aug 18: In an incident that occured late night on Wednesday August 17, VHP and Bajrang Dal activists beat up a local BJP leader to death for allegedly transporting four calves in his tempo.

Praveen Poojary

The incident occured in front of a school at Kenjur, Santhekatte here.

It is learnt that local BJP leader Praveen Poojary (28) and his friend Akshay Devadiga (20) were transporting four calves in Praveen's tempo late night on Wednesday. On receiving information about this, around 35 activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal waylaid the tempo at Santhekatte and allegedly assaulted the duo with sharp weapons.

While Praveen was killed in the assault, Akshay has been admitted to a hospital in Brahmavar.

The Hebri police have already arrested 18 of the 35 attackers and search is on for the rest.

It is alleged that the attack was initiated by Arvind Sherigar, a VHP member, who owns a petrol bunk, and his colleague Prakash.

Praveen Poojary was the president of the Kenjur local standing committee of BJP. He ran a general store, a chicken farm and a petty shop. He was the breadwinner of his house as well as looked after the needs of the residents of his grandmother's house.

Speaking to daijiworld, Praveen's brother-in-law Prasad, who is a gram panchayat member, demanded the police to immediately arrest all those responsible for Praveen's death and take strict against them.

The case has been handed over to Brahmavar police for further investigations.

The tempo in which the calves were being transported were taken to Brahmavar police station.

SP K T Balakrishna visited the Brahmavar police station to take stock of the situation.

Former MLA Raghupati Bhat of BJP visited Akshay in the hospital, while minister Pramod Madhwaraj visited Praveen's family in Kokkarne.

Meanwhile, Sunil K R, convenor of Mangaluru Bajrang Dal zone, denied the involvement of VHP and Bajrang Dal activists in the case.