Protests over K’taka Bajrang Dal man’s murder in Noida

Noida: Members of several right-wing groups staged a protest outside the district magistrate’s office in Sector 27 on Wednesday condemning the murder of a 23-year-old Harsha, a member of Bajrang Dal, in Karnataka’s Shivamogga on February 20.
The demonstration, seeking Rs 1 crore in compensation for the bereaved family and a government job for the next of kin, was a part of similar protests staged by right-wing groups in several parts of the country.
A huge row was set off in Karnataka after Harsha was allegedly stabbed to death by a group of men on Sunday night. In a complaint filed with Shivamogga police, Harsha’s mother had claimed that some youths had issued death threats to the 23-year-old earlier due to his association with Bajrang Dal. So far, the local police have arrested eight people in the case.
On Wednesday morning, several Bajrang Dal members along with some Hindu fringe groups marched to the DM’s office from sector 12 shouting slogans against “anti-national” forces that they said are responsible for the murder.
“Our demands include financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for the bereaved family and government job to a family member. We want the accused to be given capital punishment for the murder of Harsha,” Uma Nandan Kaushik, the zonal head of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Noida, said.
The group handed over a memorandum, addressed to home minister Amit Shah, to the city magistrate, said DM Suhas LY. It will be handed over it to the government, he added. Additional deputy commissioner of police (Noida) Ranvijay Singh said the protesters had blocked the road near DM Chowk for nearly 30 minutes. “For a brief period, traffic movement near Sector 27 was disturbed as the protesters had blocked all roads near DM Chowk. However, the protest was largely peaceful,” Singh said.