The Supreme Court Wednesday granted bail to 21 persons accused of indulging in violence in Mangaluru on December 19 during anti-CAA protests. The accused had already been granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on February 17. However, the apex court stayed this order on March 6 on an appeal filed by the State Government. For six months though they were given bail by the HC, the accused could not be released due to a stay order of the apex court.

On considering an application for interim bail, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice S A Bobde today proceeded to order the release of all accused. The bench, however, said that it had not treated the observation of the Karnataka High Court that it was not possible to prima facie determine the presence of the accused persons at the spot, as a final finding of the fact.

The Court also directed that the accused would report to the nearest police station on every alternative Monday and they would ensure that they do not participate in any violent activities/meetings.

In their plea, the accused persons contended that they were involved in peaceful protests but the police had resorted to the firing leading to the death of two persons. They submitted they have been in custody for more than seven months since December 22, 2019. The police, they said, had already filed a charge sheet and hence they were not required for investigations anymore.

The accused also added that after the apex court’s order of March 6, “the scenario has considerably changed with the fatal spread of Covid-19 pandemic throughout the country and the world.” They, thus, argued that it was necessary not to keep under trials unnecessarily detained as it would lead to overcrowding of jails and may cause a spread of the virus.

They were represented by senior advocate R Basant assisted by advocates Haris Beeran and Pallavi Pratap. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the State Government.

Background:

On December 19, 2019 there were anti-CAA/ NPR protests held in Mangaluru city that were met with police action. Two people were killed in Mangaluru in police firing after protests allegedly turned violent, and scores were injured, properties were damaged and several criminal cases were filed and with people also being arrested. Some journalists too were at the receiving end of police violence, while several journalists, especially from Kerala based media, were also detained by the police and later released. The State Government and the police claims that there was no police excess and that all actions by the police and district administration was in accordance with law, whereas the civil society organisations and the opposition have refuted the same, and believe that the police action was excessive, biased and specifically targeted the Muslim community.

Videos of the incident however tell a different story.

After this incident, Karnataka CM announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh for the families for each of the deceased, only to withdraw it later. He also accused the people who had come in from Kerala for allegedly setting a police station ablaze and damaging public property after which the Kerala government intervened to make a safe passage for the people to get back to their home state.

A team of human right and civil liberty activists from Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi conducted a fact-finding exercise to unearth the realities of the happenings of the events that took place in Mangaluru, Karnataka on December 19, 2019.  After going through gathered evidence (videos and photos), they conclusively determined certain aspects of the incidents that occurred through the day of December the 19th.

They found, for instance, that heavy police deployment, including that of external KSRP forces was in place with preparations of arrangement of sand bags and riot gear being undertaken at the location.

The first incident on December 19, 2019, according to the report of the fact finding team, appeared to have occurred around 1.30 pm, when a handful of youth attempted to protest against the CAA but were dispersed by the police, which used excessive violence against them. From the videos circulating widely, it is apparent that their number was not more than 150 and that they were only shouting slogans. The protesters were violently thrashed, kicked, pushed around and abused before being thrown into police vans without any provocation in a premeditated manner. The police came down upon them with disproportionate force and violence.

The team also found out that there was some confusion amongst the youth about whether or not the protest announced for that day had been cancelled, as the message of cancellation issued after imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 had not circulated to all.

According to the report, the police then went on a rampage and stormed into shops in the vicinity, pulling out people, selectively attacking Muslims. At around 4 pm, a team of police attacked Ibrahim Khaleel mosque where about 80 persons were praying peacefully. The police apparently sought to chase certain youth into the said mosque and then initiated an indiscriminate attack upon the mosque. The police reportedly also launched an attack of stones and teargas through and above the slats of the mosque gate, causing havoc and confusion.

When the infuriated youth retaliated with intermittent stone pelting, the leaders of the community were brought in by the police to calm the situation. It was during this time, that the former mayor of Mangaluru was hurt on the head by the police which again aggravated the situation.

At this point, the police began indiscriminate firing of guns and teargas. Two innocent bystanders were killed during this firing, both of which took place on Azizuddin Road, where the Mangaluru North Police Station is located. One of them was a 42-year old father of two and daily wage earner on the docks, who had stepped out of his house to offer Namaz. There was no mob present, yet tear gas and bullets was being fired into the road, one of which hit Abdul Jaleel in the head. In another incident on another end of Azizuddin Road, 23-year old Nausheen who was attempting to return home from the workshop he was working at, fell prey to the blind and indiscriminate firing when a bullet hit him in his midriff. Highland Hospital where many of the seriously injured were admitted, reported that there were 5 persons admitted with bullet and shell linked injuries.

Both were declared dead when they were on arrival by the Highland Hospital. Jaleel and Nausheen’s families filed complaints with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the hospital administration filed a complaint and wanted action to be taken against the responsible personnel but no action was taken in this regard.

However, he report also states that the police even attacked the Highland Hospital demanding that the bodies be handed over to them as they were Medico Legal Cases (MLCs). The police upon arrival at the hospital were faced by an angry group of mourners, who pelted stones at the police outside the hospital. The police engaged in lathi charge outside the hospital. They did not stop there. The police then fired tear gas within the hospital compound and proceeded to storm the hospital. They tried to barge into patient rooms including the ICU.

The team also spoke to Dr.Rajeshwari Devi, District Medical Officer, Wenlock Hospital. She informed us that on December 19, 66 people were treated in the OPD of which 26 were civilians and 42 were police persons. Police continued to get treatment from the OPD till the 22nd of December. Apparently there were conscious attempts on the part of the police to make it appear that the number of policemen injured by the alleged stone pelting by the mob outnumbered civilians who suffered injuries from violence by police. The cases of police treated in Wenlock were mostly related to bruises, lacerations, contusions and swelling. There were two cases of bullet injuries in which one of the victims admitted took discharge immediately.

On December 20, 2019 too, the police beat up people who came out of the masjid after their offering their prayers. The curfew had been lifted during those hours (12:00 PM to 2:00 PM) and when the people questioned the police as to why they were beaten up, the police simply said that they did not know of the curfew being revoked.

The police also reportedly targeted shops and street stalls owned by the Muslim community.

Some open FIRs mention the accused as ‘Unknown Muslim Youth’. The report concludes that the fact that the attack on the masjid and people coming out of the masjid, that all who were admitted either for bullet/shell injuries and severe injuries due to lathi charge, even on those alighting from buses, were all Muslim indicates that the police force has been communalised.

Within 2 days of the incidents, all the CCTV DVRs have been taken away by the police. Based on the criticism that the police have already faced, it is alleged that this was done in an attempt by the police to cover their tracks. Similarly, on the matter of the internet ban, it appears that it was done only to prevent videos about the police violence from being circulated.

Demands of the fact-finding team

The team had demanded that the Court order a judicial enquiry into the events of December 19, 2019, including the event of the police barging into the Highland Hospital. It has also demanded that the FIRs lodged against various persons, predominantly the people from the Muslim community must be closed. The team has asked for the suspension for the various police officials and ex-gratia compensation for the families of the deceased among other demands.

The entire report by the fact-finding team may be read here.

The complete order may be read here.

Related:

Was Mangalore police shooting to kill ? Multiple videos raise questions
Mangaluru: Fact-finding report unearths the reality of police brutality at anti-CAA protests

The post Bail to 21 accused of violence in anti-CAA protests in Mangaluru: SC appeared first on SabrangIndia.

India has been gripped with vehement protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). From Assam to Delhi, from Uttar Pradesh to Maharashtra and from Karnataka to West Bengal, there have been continuous protests by students, civilians and activists alike that have invited the ire of a baffled and shocked Central government that had not expected such large-scale protests to take place in the nation.

To curb dissent and instill fear, the government had used strong-arm tactics against the protestors, with the police resorting to lathi charge, tear gas lobbing and firing at innocents. In the aftermath of this, Assam saw the death of 5 people, UP around 18 and Mangaluru 2.

On December 19, 2019 there were anti-CAA/ NPR protests held in Mangaluru city that were met with police action. Two people were killed in Mangaluru in police firing after protests allegedly turned violent, and scores were injured, properties were damaged and several criminal cases were filed and with people also being arrested. Some journalists too were at the receiving end of police violence, while several journalists, especially from Kerala based media, were also detained by the police and later released. The State Government and the police claims that there was no police excess and that all actions by the police and district administration was in accordance with law, whereas the civil society organizations and the opposition have refuted the same, and believe that the police action was excessive, biased and specifically targeted the Muslim community.

After this incident, Karnataka CM announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh for the families for each of the deceased, only to withdraw it later. He also accused the people who had come in from Kerala for allegedly setting a police station ablaze and damaging public property after which the Kerala government intervened to make a safe passage for the people to get back to their home state.

A team of human right and civil liberty activists from Karnataka, Kerala and Delhi conducted a fact-finding exercise to unearth the realities of the happenings of the events that took place in Mangaluru, Karnataka on December 19, 2019. They met with the families of the deceased, other injured and their families, shopkeepers in the State Bank and Bunder area, administration and others in the Ibrahim Khaleel mosque, met the administration of Highland Hospital and District Medical Officer, Dr.Rajeshwari Devi of Wenlock Hospital, met Shri Madan Mohan, Assistant Commissioner, and Dr. P.S. Harsha, Commissioner of Police.

After going through gathered evidence (videos and photos), they have conclusively determined certain aspects of the incidents that occurred through the day of December the 19th.

They found out that heavy police deployment, including that of external KSRP forces was in place with preparations of arrangement of sand bags and riot gear being undertaken at the location.

The first incident appeared to have occurred around 1.30 pm, when a handful of youth attempted to protest against the CAA but were dispersed by the police, which used excessive violence against them. From the videos circulating widely, it is apparent that their number was not more than 150 and that they were only shouting slogans.The protesters were violently thrashed, kicked, pushed around and abused before being thrown into police vans without any provocation in a premeditated manner. The police came down upon them with disproportionate force and violence.

The team found out that there was some confusion amongst the youth about whether or not the protest announced for that day had been cancelled, as the message of cancellation issued after imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 had not circulated to all.

Thepolice then went on a rampage and stormed into shops in the vicinity, pulling out people, selectively attacking Muslims. At around 4 pm, a team of police attacked Ibrahim Khaleel mosque where about 80 persons were praying peacefully. The police apparently sought to chase certain youth into the said mosque and then initiated an indiscriminate attack upon the mosque. The police launched an attack of stones and teargas through and above the slats of the mosque gate, causing havoc and confusion.

When the infuriated youth retaliated with intermittent stone pelting, the leaders of the community were brought in by the police to calm the situation. It was during this time, that the former mayor of Mangaluru was hurt on the head by the police which again aggravated the situation.

At this point, the police began indiscriminate firing of guns and teargas. Two innocent bystanders were killed during this firing, both of which took place on Azizuddin Road, where the Mangaluru North Police Station is located. One of them was a 42-year old father of two and daily wage earner on the docks, who had stepped out of his house to offer Namaz. There was no mob present, yet tear gas and bullets was being fired into the road, one of which hit Abdul Jaleel in the head. In another incident on another end of Azizuddin Road, 23-year old Nausheen who was attempting to return home from the workshop he was working at, fell prey to the blind and indiscriminate firing when a bullet hit him in his midriff. Highland Hospital where many of the seriously injured were admitted, reported that there were 5 persons admitted with bullet and shell linked injuries.

Both were declared dead when they were on arrival by the Highland Hospital. Jaleel and Nausheen’s families filed complaints with the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and the hospital administration filed a complaint and wanted action to be taken against the responsible personnel but no action was taken in this regard.

However, the police even attacked the Highland Hospital demanding that the bodies be handed over to them as they were Medico Legal Cases (MLCs). The police upon arrival at the hospital were faced by an angry group of mourners, who pelted stones at the police outside the hospital. The police engaged in lathi charge outside the hospital. They did not stop there. The police then fired tear gas within the hospital compound and proceeded to storm the hospital. They tried to barge into patient rooms including the ICU.

The team also spoke to Dr.Rajeshwari Devi, District Medical Officer, Wenlock Hospital. She informed us that on 19th December, 66 people were treated in the OPD of which 26 were civilians and 42 were police persons. Police continued to get treatment from the OPD till the 22nd of December. Apparently there were conscious attempts on the part of the police to make it appear that the number of policemen injured by the alleged stone pelting by the mob outnumbered civilians who suffered injuries from violence by police. The cases of police treated in Wenlock were mostly related to bruises, lacerations, contusions and swelling. There were 2 cases of bullet injuries in which one of the victims admitted took discharge immediately.

On December 20, 2019 too, the police beat up people who came out of the masjid after their offering their prayers. The curfew had been lifted during those hours (12:00 PM to 2:00 PM) and when the people questioned the police as to why they were beaten up, the police simply said that they did not know of the curfew being revoked.

The police also targeted shops and street stalls owned by the Muslim community. Some open FIRs mention the accused as ‘Unknown Muslim Youth’. The attack on the masjid and people coming out of the masjid, that all who were admitted either for bullet/shell injuries and severe injuries due to lathi charge even on those alighting from buses, were all Muslim indicates that the police force has been communalized.

Within 2 days of the incidents, all the CCTV DVRs have been taken away by the police. Based on the criticism that the police have already faced, it is alleged that this was done in an attempt by the police to cover their tracks. Similarly, on the matter of the internet ban, it appears that it was done only to prevent videos about the police violence from being circulated.

Demands of the fact-finding team

The team has demanded that the Court order a judicial enquiry into the events of December 19, 2019, including the event of the police barging into the Highland Hospital. It has also demanded that the FIRs lodged against various persons, predominantly the people from the Muslim community must be closed. The team has asked for the suspension for the various police officials and ex-gratia compensation for the families of the deceased among other demands.

The entire report by the fact-finding team may be read here.

Related:

MuzaffarnagarEkBaarPhir – Muzaffarnagar Once Again
Fact-finding report reveals police brutality at Aurangabad and Phulwari Sharif
UP sees the worst of Police Brutality
Fact finding report reveals excesses by Meerut police against Muslims
‘Bloody Sunday 2019’- PUDR releases report on Jamia police brutalities

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A revised version of the first yakshagana prasanga (episode) on Jesus Christ — Maha Chetana Yesukrista Mahatme — which had been criticised by some Hindutva groups that Yakshagana was being used to propagate Christianity was released at a function in Mangaluru on May 26.

Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangaluru, who released the prasanga, said that fine arts have the capacity to unite people. Art forms, including Yakshagana, were beyond the boundaries of religion, caste and language.

Just a week before, right wing activists opposing the performance alleging on various social media platforms including Facebook and WhatsApp, alleging that the performance is a tactic to convert Hindus to Christiantiy. Many even called the Prasanga on the life of Jesus Christ an insult to Tulu tradition.. Among others, a Facebook page displayed hashtags such as #HurtingTuluvaSentiments, #ItsOurCulture, etc.

The Yakshagana Prasanga "Maha Chethana – Yesu Christa Mahathme" was penned by veteran author and playwright Mulia Keshavaiah. Honey Cabral, secretary, Karnataka Christian Education Society, said that when the prasanga was first released in 1976 there was curiosity among people how the character of Satan would be showcased. But when the first show was staged in Shanti Nilaya all appreciated it.

Anandarama Upadhya, a well known critic, said that the prasanga had all the ‘rasas’. Yakshagana literature was yet to receive the recognition it deserved. Raghu Muliya, son of Mr. Keshavaiah, said that the new version has commentaries for 200 songs in the original script. The script has been translated into English and German in 1977-78.

M Prabhakar Joshi, 75, a former Yakshagana artiste said, "The work has already seen more than 100 performances over the years. Those who speak ill about it, and are trying to attribute motives to it are not real art lovers." Joshi has, in fact, performed in a performance based on Mahachethana-Yesu Christa Mahathme. "Fundamentalists want to create tension, in order to convey a wrong message about art, which cuts across religion, country and race," he added.

K Chinappa Gowda, an expert on folklore, pointed out that, if Yakshagana was identified with the Hindu religion, why would it be staged in Germany, Japan and other countries where other religions were practiced widely. "In the Prasanga, Bappanadu Kshethra Mahathme, a Muslim role Bappa Byari is depicted. But nobody has ever questioned that so far, because Yakshagana is not about any religion," Gowda added.

K Chinappa Gowda, an expert on folklore and former vice-chancellor of the Karnataka Janapada University, who has researched Yakshagana and other art forms of Tulunadu, said art spoke of 'human religion'. "Why create an unnecessary issue over this Prasanga now? The art is not just related to any caste or religion such as Hindu, Christian or Muslim. It is for all. This Prasanga has been staged several times. Yakshagana has become a global art form," he added.

He pointed out that, if Yakshagana was identified with the Hindu religion, why would it be staged in Germany, Japan and other countries where other religions were practiced widely. "In the Prasanga, Bappanadu Kshethra Mahathme, a Muslim role Bappa Byari is depicted. But nobody has ever questioned that so far, because Yakshagana is not about any religion," Gowda added.
 

The post Yakshagana Prasanga on Christ’s life Released despite Rightwing Protests: Mangaluru appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The students of MV Shetty College in Karnataka's Mangaluru are up in arms against the management, after a 21-year-old student attempted to kill herself two days ago. 

The student was reportedly upset over the management denying her permission to appear for the final semester examination, stating that she had failed in an internal viva test. However, students claim that a lecturer had deliberately failed Vincy and five other students. 

On Tuesday night at around 9pm, Vincy, a native of Kozhikode and a sixth semester student of MV Shetty College of Speech and Hearing, said that she wanted to take a shower and insisted that her roommate leave the room. When Vincy did not come out of the bathroom for some time, her roommate went to check on her. To her horror, Vincy's roommate found blood on the floor of the room, following which the students then broke open the bathroom door. They found Vincy unconscious on the floor, with her veins cut. 

Vincy, who was rushed to a nearby hospital, continues to receive medical treatment. 

More than 150 students of the college have been protesting outside the main campus since Wednesday, demanding that the management allow Vincy and other students to appear for the sixth semester examination. Speaking to The News Minute, Vincy's classmate- on the condition of anonymity- accused one teacher of targeting several students, time and again.

"Teacher Vini Abhijith from our department is extremely partial and she targets those students whom she does not like. She would mark them really low in class tests…it was evident that she had a few targets in every class. But the management remains mum because she is close to those higher up," the student alleged. 

Vincy's father Gangadharan, a retired government employee said that the college had made him pay the examination fees, but had not allowed his daughter to appear for it. 

"Three weeks ago, the college Principal summoned me and the parents of five other students and said that our children were short on attendance. He said that they had failed in an internal test and that they could still appear for the final semester exam. But then Vincy called me up a week ago and said that the college had gone back on its words and even offered to refund the examination fee we had paid. She was devastated because this meant that she had to repeat one full academic year," Gangadharan said. 

Neither Gangadharan, nor Vincy's friends had any inclination that she would attempt suicide.

"She is a strong girl and so, although we knew she was upset, we did not take it too seriously. After the college management told her that she could not appear for the exam, Vincy even stopped talking to us. She would just sit on the bed and just not talk to anyone," another friend said. 

The students also alleged that the college management first refused to even listen to their demands when they began protesting on Wednesday. 

"The whole day, we stood outside the gate, demanding a dialogue with the management. A few of them agreed to talk to us at around 3pm and summoned some students in. But we were clear, we wanted the management to address all of us and not just one or two students. The representatives of the management then walked out," a student said. 

Speaking to TNM, Principal Satish K claimed that external political elements were involved in manipulating the students. He said that the students had never raised a complaint about Vini, the lecturer, and that disqualifying the six students including Vincy was normal procedure.

"Those students have failed in the test and must accept the result no matter what. Also, Vincy was never a bright student. She barely managed to pass previous examinations," Principal Satish said. 

After the students continued their protest on Thursday, the management agreed to consider their demands, including strict action against two lecturers Vini Abhijith and Binoy Shany, "who are responsible for the plight of the students."

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These were some of the comments made by right wingers on social media against activist Vidya Dinker. What was it that Vidya had done to earn such venom from the self-appointed `protectors of Hindu culture’? She had filed a complaint before the police and asked them to take action against members of the Bajrang Dal who were obstructing the screening of Shah Rukh Khan’s film `Dilwale’ in Mangaluru theatres recently. A few months ago Shah Rukh Khan had – in an interview to Rajdeep Sardesai – expressed his concern about rising intolerance in the country and had earned the ire of the knickerwallahs.[1]

Vidya’s `Dilwale’ incident happened by chance. A young college student was keen on seeing Shah Rukh Khan’s film and had booked a ticket in advance. However, when she went to the theatre she was told that the show had been cancelled due to pressure from members of the Bajrang Dal. By then some members of the Saffron brigade had also shared photos of them tearing and burning the posters of the film on social media. The young girl took a photo of her ticket being cancelled and her money being refunded. Later, when she ran into Vidya Dinker she narrated all that had happened.

The Mangaluru police know Vidya well. For many years now, she has been active in rescuing children from traffickers, rushing to the aid of abused women, opposing goons who attacked pubs and home stays, and so on. Vidya came more clearly to the forefront when she put up a protracted struggle against the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (SEZ). It was because of a protracted struggle, with her at the helm, that, finally, both the state and the central governments had to give up on the 2035- acre project. And again, when journalist Naveen Soorinje was arrested and jailed for doing his duty and filming the attack (by fanatics) on a home stay, it was Vidya who ran from pillar to post, to get him out on bail.

There is one thing everyone knows about Vidya: once she takes up an issue she will not easily throw in the towel. Yet, when Vidya first went to the police and asked them to take action against mobs which were obstructing `Dilwale’ the police tried to fob her off. Instead of sending policemen to the theatres where the shows were being unlawfully stalled, they (the police) sent cops to other theatres! When Vidya insisted on action, the police claimed that since theatre owners had not filed a complaint, they could take no action. (Theatre owners were afraid to file a complaint since they feared attacks on their property). When Vidya asked the police to take suo moto action, under the law, against people breaking the law, they replied that they could not do so, for lack of evidence. That was when Vidya took the photo of the ticket being reimbursed from the college student and filed a complaint in her own name. This was on December 21, 2015.

No sooner had she done so, right wingers started spewing venom against her. On a face book wall named `Veera Kesari’ the co-convener of the Mangaluru unit of the Bajrang Dal, Puneet Kottari, posted a message calling Vidya a ‘traitor’ to the nation. He also asked her to `remember that you are eating rice grown in India and not Camel dung excreted in Pakistan’. It was Kottari’s initial post which evoked these abusive responses. A look at the face book walls of Kottari — and all those who responded to his post — show that they are all ardent admirers of both Narendra Modi, individually and the Sangh Parivar, in general.
With the saffron brigade spewing targeted hate on social media and the Karnataka police not even raising a finger to control them, all liberals and progressives persons all over the state (Karnataka) got very alarmed. They staged a number of protests. That was when the Mangaluru police woke up. But what did they do? They only called Puneet Kottari, gave him a warning and sent him on his way.

Bhuvit Shetty did ultimately kill an innocent youth. Puneeth Kottari might soon get bail and be released soon. Who knows, then, what he or someone else like him, groomed by an ideology that engenders violence and hatred, will end up doing? That thought alone is enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine.

It is also worthwhile recalling what another Bajrang Dal activist called Bhuvit Shetty did just recently. Another product of the Hindutva ‘Laboratory’ that the coastal districts of Karnataka have become, Bhuvit Shetty had gloated over the murder of scholar and historian M M Kalburgi nearly four months ago. He had tweeted, “Critics of Hinduism will die a dog’s death. After U R Ananthmurthy, it is Kalburgi who had died such a death. Next, it is your turn K S Bhagwan”. Then, too, it was Karnataka’s liberals that had expressed shock and dismay and protested strongly. In response, then, the Mangaluru police had merely summoned Bhuvit Shetty, given him a warning and sent him off. A couple of months later, Bhuvit did exactly as he had threatened. He attacked and killed. His victim, however, was not Professor Bhagwan, but a poor youth called Harish Poojary.

The incident took place around the time of the Tipu Sultan Jayanthi controversy in Karnataka which had created ripples in Mangaluru and Coorg districts. Around this time, on November 12, 2015 Samiullah and his friend Harish Poojary went on the former’s bike to play cricket. While returning home, they stopped at a junction to drink tender coconut. It was the same spot where Bhuvit and four other Bajrang Dal members lay in waiting, ready to attack Muslims. [2] The five of them assumed Harish Poojary also to be a Muslim and surrounded both Samiullah and Harish. Though Samiullah escaped with some wounds, Harish was not so lucky. He was killed on the spot by Bhuvit and his accompanying, Hindutva goons. After investigations the police arrested Bhuvit and Achuta and are still on the lookout for the other three persons involved in the murder. Announcing the arrest of Bhuvit and Achuta, IGP Amrit Paul, rued “I have worked in many districts in the state, but never have I seen a place like Mangaluru where people go and kill someone without any reason. Their intention was very clear: to kill someone. This was done by perverted minds.”[3]

And there are innumerable perverted minds wandering loose in the coastal districts of Karnataka. A couple of decades ago these very same districts had a different social climate and were considered peaceful, housing a population that was educated, progressive, enterprising and development oriented. But since the RSS has chosen to concentrate its special attention on these districts – important for the RSS as they have a higher percentage of Muslims and Christians when compared to other parts of the state – they have become communal cauldrons. Youths belonging to the backward classes have been brainwashed by the Sangh and are being used as the frontline goondas (lumpens) who impose the fatwa generated by the upper caste leadership of the Sangh Parivar.

Puneeth, who belongs to the backward Kottari class is clearly one such perverted mind. Soon after his post about Vidya, photos of him proudly posing with a rifle, standing behind the Vishwa Hindu Parishat leader Praveen Togadia and grinning goofily, and many other pictures of him sporting a huge tilak and standing in front of various Hindutva posters started circulating on social media such as WhatsApp.

Liberals, who were alarmed upon seeing such photos and the lack of action on the part of the Mangaluru police, started questioning the state government. “Are you waiting for Puneet to become a killer like Bhuvit?’’ they asked. It was only when their voice got louder that the police finally arrested Puneeth and filed charges against 27 others who had abused Vidya Dinker on social media. This happened only on December 24, 2015.[4]
These are extremely dangerous times to be living in. When well known Karnataka writer, U R Ananthamurthy said that he would not like to live in an India where Modi is prime minister, he was abused.[5] Ultimately, when Modi did become prime minister, the writer was sent an air ticket to Pakistan. When Ananthmurthy passed away, Sanghis celebrated his demise by bursting firecrackers.

Likewise, when Kalburgi criticised facets of Hinduism, he too was threatened by the Sanghis and later he was shot dead in his own home. It’s been four months since his demise and even today we are clueless about who conspired to kill him.

Bhuvit Shetty did ultimately kill an innocent youth. Puneeth Kottari might soon get bail and be released soon. Who knows, then, what he or someone else like him, groomed by an ideology that engenders violence and hatred, will end up doing? That thought alone is enough to send a chill down anyone’s spine.

The post Living in dangerous times: Venom in the name of Hindutva appeared first on SabrangIndia.