Defiant Mutalik visits DK

Cocks a snook at ban orders and holds meetings in the district, says he will defy the ban again if the state government doesn't come around

Defiant Mutalik visits DK

Cocks a snook at ban orders and holds meetings in the district, says he will defy the ban again if the state government doesn't come around

Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Mutalik has been skulking around in Dakshina Kannada district and holding meetings there despite ban orders since March 16.

Mutalik admitted to his meeting with Sene leaders in the district but refused to get into details.

Mutalik was in Bangalore as part of a statewide agitation protesting against the state government's ban on his entry to the district that includes Mangalore where much of the moral policing is taking place.

Mutalik presented a memorandum to governor Rameshwar Thakur on Monday, asking for the ban to be revoked.

"At this point, I only urge the state government to decide within three days, failing whichu00a0 statewide protests will be intensified and I may be forced to violate the district administration's order," he said. (According to his own admission, however, that's something he has already done.)

Mutalik reportedly attended a baithak in leader Arun Kumar Puthila's residence at Narimogaru near Puttur last week and slipped through the district administration's scrutiny.

Senior police officials didn't want to be drawn into the controversy. "I prefer not to comment," said Jyothi Prakash Mirji, IGP, intelligence wing.

Meanwhile, Mutalik is spreading his wings beyond Karnataka and setting up offices in other places like New Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. He still has his sights on Goa though the organization has been banned there.