Shivamogga: Six people have been arrested in connection with Bajrang Dal activist Harsha murder case here. However, some are still at large, a senior police officer said Tuesday. This development comes amid stray incidents of arson and violence reported in the city Tuesday morning. The victim’s sister rued the ‘brutal’ manner in which Harsha was killed and appealed to people to give up fanaticism. She also wondered if there was no value for humanity.
The 28 year-old Harsha was stabbed to death Sunday night here. It led to clamping of prohibitory order even as the city witnessed arson, violence and stone pelting.
“We have arrested Mohammed Kashif, Syed Nadeem, Ashifullah Khan, Rehan Khan, Nehal and Abdul Afnan in connection with the case. All are aged between 20 to 22 years, except Kashif who is 32. They are all residents of Shivamogga,” SP BM Lakshmi Prasad told reporters. He said these people were earlier staying together but were now living separately. All the six have criminal cases against them.
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According to Prasad, a few more are involved in the case and a manhunt has been launched to track them. “We are getting lot of information. We are checking the veracity of the claim before making part of our investigation,” the officer said. Prasad informed that four of the accused were directly involved in the murder while two others were part of the conspiracy.
The police officer said 12 more people were detained and questioned but their role did not come to light. Harsha also had cases pending against him, including for rioting, he said.
Meanwhile, Harsha’s sister, Ashwini said she has been receiving photos and videos from unknown mobile phone numbers of her brother lying dead in a pool of blood.
“My brother always used to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and is now no more. Is this the brutal way a person should be killed. Don’t they have family members at home? Isn’t there any value for humanity,” she told reporters.
Ashwini asked people to give up fanaticism. “My brother is now there (in the cremation ground) because he always spoke about Hindu-Hindutva. I appeal to all my brothers and sisters, to the Muslims and Hindu – that you should be good children of your parents and do not indulge these things,” she said without elaborating.
Following Harsha’s killing, the city witnessed violence, arson, stone-pelting and damage to the properties during the funeral procession Monday. The rioting left at least three persons, including a photo journalist and a policewoman, injured. Several two-wheelers were either damaged or torched.
Police personnel have been deployed at every nook and corner of the city. The district authorities have appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm.
Additional Director General of Police C Pratap Reddy said a few vehicles were burnt Tuesday morning in Tunganagar locality, despite prohibitory orders which have been clamped under section 144 of the CrPC.
“Following the murder of Harsha, there was a very tense situation in the city and certain surrounding areas. Additional forces were rushed to Shivamogga and lot of arrangement was made by the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police to ensure that the fallout of the murder does not spread further,” Reddy said.
