One killed in firing after BJP leader’s murder

One person was killed and three others were injured in Mulki near Mangalore in Karnataka when police opened fire to quell an unruly mob, which was protesting the murder of a local BJP leader.

The violence had been sparked off by the killing of BJP’s Moodabidri unit general secretary Sukhananda Shetty, 38, in front of his shop at Hosabetta near Mangalore on Friday. Unidentified assailants entered Shetty’s shop and hacked him to death. Shetty died on the way to the hospital.

Trouble began when Shetty’s supporters were denied permission by the police to take the body in a procession in an open vehicle. Soon mobs began throwing stones and soda bottles at the police. Angry crowds went on a rampage, torching shops in the area and damaging private vehicles. The police resorted to caning and firing tear gas shells in a bid to control the violence.

But, when the dead body arrived in Multi, all hell broke loose with the crowd attacking the Mulki police station, forcing the police to fire at them. The deceased has been identified as Prem.

A number of policemen, including senior police officers were injured in the attack. Superintendent of Dakshina Kannada Police B Dayanand sufferred a fracture in his hand.

Police has imposed curfew in Mulki for three days and banned assembly of five ore more persons and carrying of arms.

Meanwhile, the police said Shetty was killed by unidentified assailants, who had come in a white four-wheeler, bearing the Tamil Nadu’s registration. Soon after Shetty entered the shop, they whipped out swords, slashed him and made good their escape.

Shetty had survived a bid on his life a couple of weeks ago and sought police protection. Shetty’s supporters went on a rampage, accusing the police of not providing enough security.

Inspector General of Police (Western Range) Sathyanarayana Rao told reporters that the police had formed teams to probe the reasons behind the attack on Shetty. Additional police force from neighbouring district of Udupi had been requisitioned, he said.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Karnataka unit has expressed concern over the increasing political killings in the State, particularly along the coastal belt.

Party’s spokesperson Suresh Kumar described Shetty’s murder as a heinous crime and the Government should have become more alert after the killing of BJP leader Dr Chittaranjan in Bhatkal during the 1990s. Urging the police not to bow to pressure from any quarters, Suresh Kumar said the police should bring the culprits to book.