Karnataka: Six arrested for Bajrang Dal activist's murder in Shivamogga

Six people have been arrested in connection with Bajrang Dal activist Harsha murder case in Shivamogga while some are at large a senior police officer said on Tuesday as stray incidents of arson and violence were reported in the city this morningThe 28yearold Harsha was stabbed to death on Sunday night here leading to clamping of prohibitory order even as the city witnessed arson violence and stone peltingWe 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 Superintendent of Police B M Lakshmi Prasad told reportersHe said these people were earlier staying together but were now living separately Kashif has some criminal cases against himAccording to Prasad a few more are involved in the case and a manhunt has been launched to track themThe police officer said 12 more people were detained and questioned but their role did not come to lightFollowing Harshas killing the city witnessed violence arson stonepelting and damage to the properties during the funeral procession on Monday that left at least three persons including a photo journalist and a policewoman injured Several twowheelers were either damaged or torchedPolice personnel have been deployed at every nook and corner of the city The district authorities have appealed to the people to maintain peace and calmAdditional Director General of Police C Pratap Reddy said a few vehicles were burnt in Tunganagar on Tuesday morning despite prohibitory orders which have been clamped under section 144 of the CrPCFollowing 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 Reddy saidThe official said 14 different incidents of arson and violence took place in the city after the murder which would require filing of FIRsIn three cases FIRs have been registered he said adding the police were trying to trace those who lost their motorbikes and properties in the arson and violenceEarlier a few BJP leaders including Karnataka Minister K S Eshwarappa and Union Minister of state Shobha Karandlaje claimed a conspiracy behind Harshas murder and demanded NIA probe into itEshwarappa who is from the district alleged Musalman goondas were behind the activists murderBJP National General Secretary Organisation B L Santosh alleged Harsha was killed by jihadi fundamentalists for his opposition to Hijab at educational institutionsKarnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the murder has a link with the ongoing Hijab row in the stateThis murder happened when the Hijab controversy started It is evident that there is a link between this murder and the Hijab row Ashoka saidA few Muslim girls from Udupi had approached the Karnataka High Court when they were allegedly denied entry to the classes with their Hijabs or the Islamic headscarves onIn reaction to the girls wearing Hijab some Hindu students started coming to college wearing saffron scarves The trend of Hijab versus saffron scarves graduallyspread to other parts of the state leading to communal tension in some educational institutionsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever