Congress MLA expresses concern on selective actions of Karnataka Police in murders

Khader told South First, “We appreciate efforts of the ADGP in the investigation of three murders that took place in the Dakshina Kannada district. But his statement of confiscating properties of the accused in the BJP worker’s murder and no such action against the accused involved in the murders of Masood and Fazil is discriminatory.”

He added: “I have sought clarification because he is competent and people during social gatherings have been seeking an answer from me on the one-sided statement of confiscating properties by the ADGP.”

Kumar has not responded to the letter from Congress MLA, but it definitely raises the question of the state’s machinery being partial in taking action based on religious lines.

Property seizure threat to ‘create fear’

Hari Ram, a lawyer practising in the Karnataka High Court, termed the ADGP’s statement on confiscating the property of the accused in the murder of the BJP worker as a tool to create fear in the minority community.

He told South First, “It is a clear attempt to create fear in the minds of people belonging to the Muslim community. The police cannot be a mouthpiece of a political party that, in power, is sponsoring the communal divide.”

The lawyer expressed concern and said, “The threat of confiscating properties will set a very bad precedent for the future and the urge to follow the UP model will cost us dearly.”

Meanwhile, the district of Udupi was tense on Tuesday due to strife between Hindutva groups and the Muslim outfit SDPI over a banner of VD Savarkar in the midst of Independence Day celebrations.

Savarkar’s banner in police protection

The banner of Savarkar and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was put up in Brahmagiri Circle in Udupi with the slogan “Jai Hindu Rashtra” written on it.

Udupi police officials were deployed at Brahmagiri circle to provide protection to the banner that displayed Hindutva icon VD Savarkar. (Supplied)

The banner irked the Muslim outfit Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which complained about it to the town authorities.

In response, Udupi Police officials were deployed at the circle to provide protection to the banner.

Udupi Town Police Station PSI Pramod Kumar told South First, “Police officials will remain deployed at the Brahmagiri Circle to protect the flex of Savarkar for 15 days.”

He added: “The deployment was requested by the town municipality.”

Khader slammed the decision to provide police protection to a banner of Savarkar. He told South First, “Police protection to one banner reflects a selective approach. Instead of protecting a banner, a clear warning should have been directed against any misdeed.”

The decision to protect the flex in Udupi came after violence broke out in Shivammoga city on 15 August after members of a Muslim organisation tried to remove Savarkar’s banner, a move resisted by Hindutva outfits.

This led to the stabbing of Hindu man, Prem Singh.

The police swung into action, dispersed the crowd, and the Shivamogga deputy commissioner immediately imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in Shivamogga city and Bhadravati town.

The cops subsequently arrested three people on Tuesday. The family of one of the accused, Mohammad Jabi, has alleged that the police falsely implicated him in the case.

As per Jabi’s wife Shabana, the cops framed him and later shot him in the leg, claiming that he tried to flee after attacking the police.

Selective focus on BJP worker’s murder

Karnataka’s coastal district of Dakshina Kannada was rocked in July by three murders in a span of 10 days.

One murder was of a BJP Yuva Morcha worker named Praveen Nettaru (32), while the other two killed were Muslim youths Masood and Mohammad Fazil.

This led to turbulence in the district, with heavy protests by BJP workers against the government, seeking immediate justice.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Bommai visited only the family of the deceased BJP worker, and handed over a ₹25 lakh compensation from the state government’s relief fund.

Instances of government bias

A few decisions concerning these murder cases — by the police as well as the administration — have led to allegations of the state government being biased on religious lines.

The Nettaru murder case was handed over to the National Investigative Agency (NIA) for investigation, whereas the other two cases in the same district are being investigated by the Daskhina Kannada Police.

After Nettaru’s murder, Bommai also announced the establishment of a separate commando force to counter communal unrest in the state.

The prejudice in decision-making became further evident when the chief minister neither met the families of the Muslim murder victims and nor provided them any compensation.

After facing flak from Muslim organisations and social activists on selective sympathy, Bommai declared he would visit Muslim murder victims’ families, which is yet to happen.

On Tuesday, former Karnataka chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah took a swipe at Bommai and wrote that there was neither compensation and nor a visit to the families of Masood and Fazil. He also highlighted the discrimination on the part of the government.

ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @BSBommai ಅವರು ಕರಾವಳಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹತ್ಯೆಗೀಡಾದ ಪ್ರವೀಣ್ ನೆಟ್ಟಾರು ಮನೆಗೆ ಮಾತ್ರ ಹೋಗಿ ಪರಿಹಾರ ಕೊಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಮಸೂದ್ ಮತ್ತು ಫಾಜಿಲ್ ಕುಟುಂಬವನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯೂ ಮಾಡಿಲ್ಲ, ಪರಿಹಾರವನ್ನೂ ಘೋಷಿಸಿಲ್ಲ.

ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಬೊಕ್ಕಸದಿಂದ ನೀಡುವ ಪರಿಹಾರದಲ್ಲಿ
ಇಂತಹಾ ತಾರತಮ್ಯ ಯಾಕೆ? 2/3

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 16, 2022