Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 1: Bengaluru: A 28-year-old BJP worker was stabbed to death by a gang of four at Chinnappa Garden in JC Nagar police limits on Wednesday night. While the BJP has claimed the murder to be politically motivated, police say that the initial interrogation reveals the killing to be a result of a drunken brawl.

The victim Santosh, a resident of Chinappa Garden, was the member of BJP Yuva Morcha. On Wednesday night he was putting up buntings in preparation of the upcoming BJP’s Parivartana Rally, to be held on February 4.

According to police, Santosh got into a drunken brawl with his friends and was stabbed in the thigh and died during treatment.

Inspector Girish Naik of JC Nagar Police Station told media that Wasim and Phillip were arrested after the incident and the police are on look out for Umar and Irfan, two more who are believed to be involved in murder.

“During interrogation, we were told that Santosh used to ask his friends (four accused) to buy him alcohol and cigarettes. When the four objected to it, a heated argument broke out resulting in Santosh being stabbed, " he said.

Girish has strongly denied claims that the incident is politically motivated or due to communal reasons, and said that the four were good friends with Santosh and have grown up together in the same neighbourhood.

BJP demands NIA probe

Meanwhile, on Thursday, former deputy chief minister R Ashok has termed the murder as ‘political killing’ and alleged 'pro-terror' organisations like PFI and SDPI were behind the murder.

Demanding an NIA probe, the BJP said that a state-wide protest will be launched against the Congress government on Friday to protest the killing.