The police in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district Monday booked Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for allegedly making provocative remarks at a condolence event for a criminal in the state’s Bantwal.
Bhat allegedly made the remarks on May 12 in the Kavalapadur village during a memorial service for murdered criminal Suhas Shetty, who was killed within the Mangaluru city limits last month. A Bajrang Dal member with a criminal record and the main accused in the 2022 Mohammed Fazil murder case, Shetty was killed on May 1.
Bhat addressed approximately 500 attendees, allegedly made remarks deemed potentially disruptive to peace between communities, said the police.
The Bantwal Rural Police Station registered the case, citing concerns over the provocative nature of the address and its potential to affect law and order in the district. The police registered a case under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for statements that could disturb communal harmony and public order.
Authorities said they are pursuing further legal proceedings against Bhat, emphasising the importance of maintaining communal harmony and preventing incitement.
Eleven people were arrested in connection with the murder of Suhas Shetty. Shetty had five cases against him — four in Mangaluru city and one in Dakshina Kannada district. He was the prime accused in the murder of Mohammed Fazil, 23, in Surathkal on July 28, 2022.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.