Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Oct 19: A day after the Mangaluru police disclosed the arrests in the murder of flower vendor and Bajrang Dal activist Prashant Poojary in Moodbidri, the district VHP and Bajrang Dal on Monday October 19 alleged that Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Front of India (SDPI) were behind the murder and demanded a ban on PFI.
Addressing a press meet at VHP-Bajrang Dal office here, Bajrang Dal convenor Sharan Pumpwell said, "It is clear after the arrest of the four accused that PFI and SPDI are involved in the Prashant Poojary murder case. Hence the government should ban the anti-national PFI.
"The same accused were also involved in attacks at Permude and Handelu. If the government does not ban PFI, Bajrang Dal and VHP will hold protests throughout the state, district and taluk levels," he warned.
"This murder has been committed because VHP and Bajrang Dal have been protesting against cattle thefts and illegal cow slaughter. The police department should protect our activists who stop illegal cow slaughter and cattle thefts. The state government should bring a law to ban cow slaughter," he said.
VHP working president Jitendra Kottari said, "Unfortunately, the Congress representatives in Dakshina Kannada have failed to respond to this murder. This clearly shows the anti-Hindu policy of the state government and the way it is appeasing the minorities. It also raises doubts about the functioning of the government."
"VHP and Bajrang Dal appreciate and congratulate the police efforts for nabbing the accused in 10 days. An aide of a local politician has financed the murder and the police department knows everything about this. Hence, the police should arrest the main accused instead of arresting innocents," he said.
He also demanded compensation to Prashant Poojary's family and those assaulted in Handelu and Permude incidents.
He also claimed that contrary to what the police commissioner had said in the press meet on Sunday October 18, the murder was committed not out of communal grudge but because Prashant was actively enagaged in stopping illegal cow slaughter and cattle theft.