The Karnataka Police have invoked sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against the 10 accused in the alleged murder of Harsha Jingade, a Bajrang Dal member.
The accused include Abdul Roshan and Jafar Sadique who were arrested on February 26 and the other accused – Feroz Pasha, Abdul Khadar, Mohammed Kashif, Syed Nadeem, Afsifullah Khan, Rihan, Nihan and Abdul Afnan, who were arrested on February 24, 2022.
The Police stated that the investigation team had completed the inquiry, and the accused were handed over to judicial custody.
The police after considering larger conspiracy behind the murder of Jigade, decided to invoke UAPA which enables the police to secure the custody of the accused for 30 days and provides time to the investigating officer to file the charge sheet in 180 days instead of 90 days in normal cases.
UAPA is usually invoked in cases involving threats to national security and national integrity. Harsha Jingade, a 28-year-old Bajrang Dal member was allegedly stabbed to death on February 20 at around 9:30 P.M in the Ravi Varma lane in Bharathi colony, triggering violence in the district of Shivamogga. He was a tailor and actively involved in Bajrang Dal and VHP activities. According to Deccan Herald, he had allegedly put up a social media post verbally abusing another religion. A complaint had been lodged against him in the Doddapet police station and Jigade had been allegedly received threatening calls. The local media says the accused chased the victim in a car and attacked him with weapons.
His death was followed by an outbreak of violence. Additional Director General of Police C Pratap Reddy said, “A few vehicles were burnt in Tunganagar, despite prohibitory orders which have been clamped under section 144 of the CrPC.” He further said, “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 arrangements were made by the deputy commissioner and the superintendent of police to ensure that the fallout of the murder does not spread further.”
Deccan Herald reported that the police permitted Jingade’s final rites after demands from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. The funeral procession went from the District McGann Teaching General Hospital to the Rotary crematorium at Vidyanagar. Despite security measures, miscreants threw stones when the procession reached Siddaiah Road. Videos depict vandals ruining stalls, setting vehicles on fire, pelting stones at commercial establishments, houses and mosques.
This again occurred near the mosque at Gandhi Bazaar. In Azad Nagar, more miscreants wreaked havoc in a Muslim residential area. In some videos innocent by-standers like truck drivers were attacked by goons. Eventually, the police had to resort to tear-gas to control the situation.
It is worth noting that the victim’s sister has requested people to not engage in violent behaviour. Speaking to local news channels, she said, “Chanting Hindu, Hindutva, my brother fell to this stage. Kindly once have a look. I ask all my brothers, with folded hands, I ask Hindus and Muslims too, be a good child to your parents. Don’t do this.”
According to Indian Express, “Crime records for the Shivamogga city reveal that Harsha was involved in at least five cases of assault and attempt to murder including several communal incidents of attacks on rival anti-social elements from the Muslim community”
According to NDTV, the victim and accused knew each other and suspected that the death was caused by an old rivalry. Harsha’s father had alleged that Muslim miscreants murdered his son because he was a Bajrang Dal activist and an FIR was filed based on the father’s complaint.
Sources reportedly told the police that Harsha was allegedly hacked to death as he was on the forefront of Hindutva related activities and actively posted messages on social platforms against wearing of hijab. Though, the police maintained that there is no connection with the hijab row with the murder, later, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra stated that the angle is being probed by the agencies. A few BJP leaders including Karnataka Minister K S Eshwarappa and Union Minister of state Shobha Karandlaje claimed a conspiracy behind Harsha’s murder, and demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The political angle
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said it is a case of more than a murder and there is more to it than meets the eye. Eshwarappa, who is from the district, alleged “Musalman goondas” were behind the activist’s murder. BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh alleged Harsha was killed by jihadi fundamentalists for his opposition to Hijab at educational institutions. Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka told the Business Standard that the murder has a link with the ongoing Hijab row in the state. “This murder happened when the Hijab controversy started. It is evident that there is a link between this murder and the Hijab row,” Ashoka said.
The Karnataka government handed over compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Harsha.
Transfer to CID
The decision to transfer the case to the Crime Investigation Division (CID) was taken after considering the law and order implications and the involvement of individuals in other states and other countries. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Hariram Shankar has confirmed that the case has been handed over to CID.
According to Mid Day, the CID, the special investigation agency of the Karnataka Police, has taken over the probe of ‘Mangalore Muslims’ Facebook page case, on which posts surfaced celebrating the murder of Bjarnag Dal activist. Karnataka Police have established a social media monitoring center at the Mangaluru Police Commissioner’s office to monitor social media posts and accounts which cause disharmony, provoke people in the society in coastal Karnataka region.
Related:
Harsha Jingade’s sister distances herself from calls for boycott of Muslims
Shivamogga: 20 injured in violence during Bajrang Dal member’s funeral
Karnataka: Bajrang Dal member killed, cops refute links to hijab row