Video Input: Ananth Shreyas
Video Producer: Aparna Singh
Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
A youth leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was allegedly murdered by bike-borne assailants in Karnataka's Dakshin Kannada on Tuesday, 26 July. On Wednesday, as tensions prevailed in the region, his mortal remains were brought to his native village Bellare and Union Minister Shobha Karandljae demanded an NIA probe into the incident.
In a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, she urged him to "intervene and take suitable action against PFI, SDPI and other extremist groups" as there is "every possibility that such incidents may be repeated again."
Praveen Nettaru, who was the district secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha, was killed at around 8 pm in Bellare on Tuesday night. The 32-year-old had closed his poultry shop, Akshaya Poultry Farm, and was returning him when his attackers charged on him with a machete.
Tensions gripped Bellare after the murder as the police reportedly shut down all shops, establishments, and hotels in the area amid protests by people.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also called for a bandh in Kadaba, Suliya, and Puttur to protest Nettaru's killing.
Additionally, section 144 has been imposed in Puttur until Friday and few have been detained for questioning, Additonal Director General of Police (ADGP) Alok Kumar told news agency ANI.
Meanwhile, several Hindutva organisations have launched demonstrations against the murder, and a number of activists from these groups staged a protest in front of the hospital where the body was kept.
The motive behind the murder is not yet known, and the police is probing the incident from multiple angles.
As per police sources, the murder may have been perpetrated to avenge the killing of a Muslim youth who was allegedly attacked by saffron outfits last week.
'Don't Know Why They Killed Him': Nettaru's Wife
Commenting on the killing, the deceased's wife told ANI that she doesn't know "why they killed him."
"Every day, I was there with him when he used to close his shop and come back home but yesterday I was not there. If I would've been there, this wouldn't have happened," she said.
"What has happened to him shouldn't happen to anyone else, accused should be punished. He had been a BJP member for a very long time. He was there during all the activities of the party," she added.
The Murder
Praveen Nettaru had been hacked to death by a duo on a bike on Tuesday night.
Nettaru had tried to escape and ran but he fell down after a blow on his head, the police said. Local residents immediately informed police, which rushed to the spot and took the blood soaked Nettaru to the hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.
His body was carried to his residence in Sullia on Wednesday morning in a large procession of BJP workers and members of Hindutva organisations.
Dakshina Kannada Rural district Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Bhagawan Sonawane told news agency PTI investigations are on though there is no breakthrough as of now. The police is probing various angles, including the assailants coming from neighbouring Kerala.
Four police teams have been constituted to nab the assailants.
Security has been beefed up in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts as additional forces have been deployed to ensure law and order.
'Heinous Act': Karnataka CM Promises Punishment for Culprits
Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai condemned Nettaru's murder, and promised due punishment to the culprits.
"The barbaric killing of party activist Praveen Nettaru from Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, is condemnable. The perpetrators of such a heinous act will be arrested soon and punished under the law. May Praveen's soul rest in peace, may god bless his family with the strength to bear this pain," he wrote in Kannada on Twitter.
The Leader of Opposition and erstwhile CM of the state, Siddaramaiah too condemned the incident and wrote, "Police should immediately arrest the murderers and prevent unrest in the region. Police should take action against the perpetrators without any biases."
Responding to this, BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi alleged that "Siddaramaiah (Congress) is only shedding crocodile tears now."
"During his tenure as CM, 32 party workers were murdered by jihadi elements. They used to help jihadi elements," he added, according to news agency ANI.
'Brutal Murder': BJYM President Tejasvi Surya
Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) President and Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya expressed his grief over the "brutal murder" and said that he will meet the family of Nettaru in Mangaluru on Friday, reported ANI.
He said, "Brutal murder! On behalf of all Yuva Morcha workers, I extend condolences to the bereaved family. I'd like to assure them every Yuva Morcha worker is with them. I'll go to Mangaluru the day after and meet his family."
"In our party's culture, a worker is a part of the family. When a member of the family is murdered, naturally anger is expressed. We decided to convert the anger into something else, we'll collect economic help from all districts and give it to his family the day after," he added.
Meanwhile, BJP workers staged a protest in Bellare on Tuesday night following the incident, demanding justice.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)