Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Oct 19: The district BJP on Monday October 19 announced that following the arrest of four persons in the murder case of Prashant Poojary, the protest planned on Tuesday October 20 has been withdrawn.
Flower vendor and Bajrang Dal activist Prashant Poojary was hacked to death in Moodbidri on the morning of October 9 by a gang of six persons who came in three bikes. The BJP had given a deadline of October 19 to the police to arrest the accused and called for a protest on October 20. With police commissioner S Murugan announcing the arrest of four persons in the case on Sunday October 18, the BJP has now decided to withdraw the protest.
Addressing a press meet at the BJP office here, party's district president Pratap Simha Nayak said, "The Dakshina Kannada unit of BJP was scheduled to hold a protest on October 20 against the murder of Prashant Poojary, but as the Mangaluru police have arrested the main accused before October 19 by conducting a detailed probe into the case, we have decided to temporarily withdraw the protest. We took this decision as per the request of the police commissioner through the media and after consulting BJP state leaders.
"We also congratulate the city police for its efforts in nabbing the four accused. We request the police to make a detailed probe into the murder case and arrest the rest of the accused, and take stringent action against the anti-social elements," he added.
Slamming the Congress-led state government, Nayak said, "Law and order in the state has been disrupted. The mentality of the government is clear - It takes action only after pressure and demand for justice from the people. Until there is pressure and demand from people, no action is initiated.
The ministers of Dakshina Kannada also have failed to respond and condemn the murder."
Without naming minister Abhaychandra Jain, he said, "The MLA and minister from Moodbidri constituency has failed to show any moral courage and visit Prashant's house. This shows the mentality of the Congress government. Because of the government's interference in police affairs in many instances, people are losing faith in the police department. The police should make a detailed and thorough probe into this case and other incidents also.
"We request the state government not to discriminate between majority and minority communities. Such attitude is against the Constitution and we condemn it," he added.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, former MLC Monappa Bhandary, MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik and others were present.