After a 26-year old member of the right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal was stabbed and killed last night, there is tension in Karnataka’s Shivamogga.
Police have deployed large numbers of officers to combat arson, and the administration has restricted access to public places.
Schools and colleges in the area will remain closed for now.
READ MORE: The time is now to say ‘talaq” talaq, talaq” at BJP, SP: Asaduddin Owaisi
NDTV spoke with a police officer who denied that Harsha’s death, a tailor, was linked to campus controversy surrounding students wearing hijab.
Doddapete, Shivamogga police station has registered a case.
“We have uncovered clues and are on the verge of arresting the suspect. This has nothing to do with the hijab controversy. Harsha and the gang were friends. The police officer stated that this resulted from an old rivalry.”
According to police, Harsha was attacked at least four times last night around 9 PM.
He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but he did not survive.
Unidentified individuals set fire to several vehicles in Shivamogga shortly after the attack.
Images from the city showed heavy police presence and burnt vehicles.
Police were equipped with riot control gear and marched through the area to stop a flare-up.
Today, Harsha’s family members met Araga Jnanendra, Karnataka’s Home Minister, at the hospital.
He consoles his family members as he is captured on video.
According to the minister, 4-5 people could have been involved in the crime.
Police have found a clue and will reveal the motive behind the murder after an investigation.
We don’t know if any organization is behind the attack. Security arrangements have been put in place.
Although there were some protests last night, the situation is under control.
Raghu Sakleshpur, the state convenor of Bajrang Dal, said that he was not satisfied with the police’s actions in the Harsha attack.
He was an active member of our team. We will soon determine the next course.
