Daijiworld Media Network - Shivamogga

Shivamogga, Feb 22: The police have arrested six people from the city so far in the Bajrang Dal worker Harsha murder case and some more accused are still on the loose, according to a senior police officer.

The 28 year-old Harsha was murdered on Sunday night by a gang of assailants leading to stray incidents of arson and violence in the city on Tuesday, February 22 morning and prohibitory order has been clamped.

Addressing the media here, Superintendent of Police B M Lakshmi Prasad disclosed that the arrested include Shivamogga residents Mohammed Kashif, Syed Nadeem, Ashifullah Khan, Rehan Khan, Nehal and Abdul Afnan. Except Kashif who is 32, all are aged between 20 and 22 years.

He said these people were earlier staying together but were now living separately. Kashif has some criminal cases against him.

According to Prasad, a few more are involved in the case and a manhunt has been launched to track them.

"Their roles have been identified. Nine FIRs have been lodged and 13 cases have been taken up. As many as 18 vehicles have been torched with eight cases of injuries. About 1,200 policemen have been deployed in Shivamogga city to prevent any violence, the officer said. There were charges of rioting and hurting religious sentiments against Harsha," he added.

The police officer said 12 more people were detained and questioned but their role did not come to light.

Following Harsha's killing, the city witnessed violence, arson, stone-pelting and damage to the properties during the funeral procession on Monday that left at least three persons, including a photo journalist and a policewoman, injured. Several two-wheelers were either damaged or torched.

As tension prevails in Shivamogga, the district administration has extended the curfew till Friday. Deputy commissioner Dr Selvamani stated on Tuesday that a further decision in this regard will be taken on Friday morning. A holiday has been declared in schools and colleges.

Police personnel have been deployed at every nook and corner of the city. The district authorities have appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm.

Additional Director General of Police C Pratap Reddy said a few vehicles were burnt in Tunganagar on Tuesday morning, despite prohibitory orders which have been clamped under section 144 of the CrPC.

"Following the murder of Harsha, there was a very tense situation in the city and certain surrounding areas. Additional forces were rushed to Shivamogga and lot of arrangements were made by the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police to ensure that the fallout of the murder does not spread further," Reddy said.

The official said 14 different incidents of arson and violence took place in the city (after the murder), which would require filing of FIRs.

In three cases FIRs have been registered, he said, adding, the police were trying to trace those who lost their motorbikes and properties in the arson and violence.

A report by India Today stated that according to accused Kashif's wife Mohsina, her husband went out at 8 pm on the night of Harsha's murder, saying that he was going to buy diapers for the baby, and he returned home only after 11 pm and said he was with friends. The police later came and took him away, she said.

Earlier, a few BJP leaders including Karnataka Minister K S Eshwarappa and Union Minister of state Shobha Karandlaje claimed a conspiracy behind Harsha's murder, and demanded NIA probe into it.

Eshwarappa, who is from the district, alleged "Musalman goondas" were behind the activist's murder.

BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh alleged Harsha was killed by jihadi fundamentalists for his opposition to Hijab at educational institutions.

Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the murder has a link with the ongoing Hijab row in the state.

"This murder happened when the Hijab controversy started. It is evident that there is a link between this murder and the Hijab row," Ashoka said.

A few Muslim girls from Udupi had approached the Karnataka High Court when they were allegedly denied entry to the classes with their Hijabs or the Islamic headscarves on.

In reaction to the girls wearing Hijab, some Hindu students started coming to college wearing saffron scarves. The trend of Hijab versus saffron scarves gradually spread to other parts of the state leading to communal tension in some educational institutions.

With inputs from agencies

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