Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)
Madikeri, Aug 16: Situation in Kushalnagar town in the district turned tense on Monday August 15 after an auto rickshaw driver was killed, and as if to settle score, an auto rickshaw driver stabbed another. Prohibitory orders were issued in view of disturbances, which will be in force till Wednesday August 17.
Over 1,500 police have been deployed to the district to manage the situation. Six high ranking police officers including two superintendents of police (SP) have camped in the district. The situation is under control now.
The murdered auto rickshaw driver, Praveen Poojary (38), son of Chandappa, resident of Attur in Guddehosur near Kushalnagar, who had participated in the Sankalpa Yatra of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Sunday,was stabbed by unknown persons in the stomach and neck regions on the night of Sunday August 14. Some passersby conveyed informed to policemen, and VHP activists rushed to the spot. Praveen died before reaching the hospital.
The news spread like wildfire and thousands of VHP activists, auto rickshaw drivers, and locals gathered in front of Kushalnagar police station and hospital, where held protest. The anger of the protesters was compounded by the fact that district in-charge minister, Seetharam, who was present in the district, did not visit the town. The protesters later stuck to their determination not to allow postmortem till the culprits are arrested. After district deputy commissioner, Richard Vincent D'Souza, met the protesters and promised to arrest the culprits within 24 hours, the protesters relented. Thereafter, the body was moved from mortuary to Attur where funeral was conducted.
In spite of prohibitory orders in force, a person named Moulvi Abdul Khuddoos (60), who hails from Uttar Pradesh, was stabbed and injured by an auto rickshaw driver on Monday evening. This flared up situation again. It is said that Abdul was pooling donations from people for religious activities on car street Kushalnagar when an auto rickshaw driver named Narayan suddenly stopped him and stabbed him with a knife. Injured Abdul was treated in a local hospital before shifting him to Mysuru for further treatment. In the meanwhile, Narayan stands arrested.
The deputy commissioner has announced that compensation of Rs 5 lac would be sanctioned to the family of Praveen. He said that the compensation would be delivered at the home of Praveen by the district in-charge minister and MLA. He also said that a police team has been formed to investigate the incident.
After rumours spread that someone had pelted stones at a prayer centre on Madikeri Road during the Sankalpa Yatra held on Sunday, the situation turned volatile. Superintendent of police, Rajendra Prasad, visited the spot and controlled the situation but the situation took a turn for the worse with the murder and stabbing incident the next day. The SP has requested the people not to lend ear to rumours and cooperate with the agencies to maintain peace and order. He also warned that those who will take law into their hands would be dealt with sternly.