Realtors, NRIs 'funding' Gou Rakshaks in coastal Karnataka: AAP

MANGALURU: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), DK unit has opened new equation in cow vigilantism in the coastal district by hinting that the ‘gau rakshaks’ are getting funds from NRIs and builders to fund their activities. " Gau rakshaks are roping in prominent NRIs and builders as their patrons," noted Rohan M Siri, district secretary in-charge of AAP.
Rohan said an AAP delegation which on Friday met family members of Praveen Poojary, who was murdered by self-appointed cow vigilantes in Udupi, offered condolences and support.There are also reports that pressure is being brought on the family of the victim to cite accident as the reason for Praveen’s death, he said, adding AAP condemns and will protest against any move to shield the accused. “The family has hinted that Praveen’s was a planned murder,” he said.
Slamming the state government for what he is said is completely failure to maintaining law and order, especially in coastal region where situation often gets out of hand due to ‘moral policing’, Rohan said the coast has suffered violence in the name of ‘protection of religion’. “It is clear that murderers do not really care about religion. Victims, historically have been minorities or dalits. Failure of state to deal with such elements in the past has emboldened the rest,” he said.
The government has also failed miserably in implementing existing provisions of law that prevents illegal transportation of cattle, he said, adding it is this that often proves to be the trigger for the cow vigilantes to take law in to their own hands. “The transport and police department officials do not implement laws such as Transport of Cattle Rules 1965/1978/2001; Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules and Motor Vehicle Act that has laid down guidelines for cattle transport,” he said.