Two persons were arrested today in connection with the murder of BJP youth wing leader Praveen Nettaru in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district on July 26, leading to massive protests and the intervention of the Chief Minister.
Among the two men, identified as Mohammad Shafiq, 27, a resident of Belare and Zakir, 29, from Savanur in Haveri district, Zakir is suspected to have “links” with the Popular Front of India. ADGP Law and Order Alok Kumar said, “We are probing all those angles and intentions of these people.” Both were detained for questioning yesterday and arrested today “based on evidence”. Police said more arrests could be made after their interrogation.
Praveen Nettaru, 32, district secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, was killed on Tuesday night by three men on a motorcycle while returning home to the nearby town of Sullia after closing his poultry shop in Belare.
This led to protests as members of the BJP youth wing said that the party’s state government had failed to protect itself. Visuals of protesters encircling the car of state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel and thrashing him also went viral.
Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai promised an early investigation and thus six teams were formed. Police said yesterday that 15 people have been taken into custody for questioning. Three teams were sent to areas in Karnataka and neighboring Kerala, as the bikes had Kerala registration numbers.
The protests in Bellare and Sulliya were particularly angered by the call for a bandh by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Hundreds of people attended when his body was taken to his home. Some right-wing organizations have alleged that Popular Front of India and Social Democratic Party of India are behind the murder.