Daijiworld Media Network – Puttur/Sullia (DV)
Puttur/Sullia, Jul 27: A day after BJP leader Praveen Nettaru was murdered, people in Sullia and Puttur voluntarily shut their business establishments on Wednesday July 27.
The mortal remains of Praveen Nettaru was taken in procession in an ambulance to Nettaru by right-wing organisations.
Hundreds of youth from various right-wing organisations gathered at the spot. The last rights of the deceased will be performed at Nettaru.
It is learnt that the few miscreants pelted stones at government buses. A government bus plying from Puttur to Mangaluru was damaged in the stone-pelting incident in Bolwar.
As a protest, the Hindu organisations had given a bandh call in Puttur, Sullia and Kadaba taluks of the district on Wednesday. Security has been beefed up across the communally sensitive district and coastal region.
With the activists alleging that the murder is a revenge killing by miscreants belonging to minority community, the incident has taken a communal turn.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has strongly condemned the murder of party worker Praveen Kumar Nettaru in Sullia of Dakshina Kannada district. "The miscreants who carried out this brutal act will be arrested and punished according to law. Let Praveen's soul rest in peace. Let the God give strength to his family to bear his loss," he stated.
Speaking to the media, superintendent of police, Sonawane Rishikesh Bhagawan said, “Praveen Nettaru’s murder took place under the limits of Bellare police station yesterday night. In the complaint, it is mentioned that people who came by a bike committed the crime. Four separate teams have been formed to trace the accused. The investigation will be done in various angles. We are gathering evidence. Also, we are questioning a few people in connection to the case.”
The administration has imposed section 144 (CrPC) Code of Criminal Procedure under the limits of Puttur, Sullia and Kadaba and Beltangady taluk.
Thirty-one-year-old Praveen Kumar Nettaru, a member of BJP Yuva Morcha and a resident of Sullia was hacked to death on Tuesday night. Two unknown bike-borne miscreants had attacked him with swords and fled the scene. Praveen owned a chicken shop at Peruvaje Cross, Bellare village near Puttur.
Though Praveen was immediately rushed to a hospital, he succumbed to his deep injury in the neck. Hindu activists are claiming that Praveen was targeted as a revenge to the incident of murder of a youth belonging to minority community four days ago.
Social media posts were abuzz with calls for revenge and police are suspecting it to be a revenge killing.
Soon after the incident, BJP Yuva Morcha members staged a protest in front of the hospital and demanded that the Deputy Collector visit the spot on Tuesday night.
Bellare police have registered the case and formed 4 special teams to nab the culprits. Further investigation is on.
With inputs from IANS