Four more held for Bajrang Dal worker’s murder

SHIVAMOGGA:

Shivamogga

continued to be on edge for the second day on Tuesday with some parts of the city witnessing sporadic incidents of violence, a fallout of Bajrang Dal worker Harsha’s murder on Sunday, even as four more were arrested for the killing.

Three autorickshaws and a couple of bikes were torched at Tipu Nagar, near

Seegehatti

, the epicentre of Monday’s violence, police sources said. There were also stray incidents of stone-pelting and arson in riot-hit areas.

In view of the tense situation, Shivamogga deputy commissioner

R Selvamani

extended the curfew till Friday morning with a relaxation of three hours to buy essentials. School and colleges will remain closed till Thursday while commercial establishments have been ordered to close at 9pm.

Shivamogga SP

Laxmi Prasad

said 13 cases have been registered in connection with Monday’s violence in Seegehatti and New Thirthahalli road area. Besides four fresh arrests for Harsha’s murder, about a dozen have been detained for questioning. The number of arrested for the murder rose to six as two were held on Monday evening.

Prasad said all four arrested were picked up from Bengaluru as they had fled to the state capital after committing the crime on Sunday night. They have been identified as

Rihan Sharif

(22), Asif Ullah Khan (22), Abdul Afhan (21) and Nihan (21).

However, Prasad refused to reveal the reason for the murder, saying it will hamper their investigation. “There could be more arrests as we suspect at least seven persons were involved in the murder. Police are conducting background checks of those who have been detained before making further arrests,” said Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra.

Additional DGP C Pratap Reddy, who is camping in Shivamogga to monitor the situation, said a few vehicles were burned in

Tunganagar

on Tuesday morning despite the curfew. So far, arson and violence have taken place at 14 places after the murder on Sunday night, he said. “We are trying to trace those who lost their motorbikes and properties in the violence. The investigation is covering all dimensions and angles,” he added.

In an exercise aimed at reinforcing public confidence, a strong posse of policemen took out a route march twice from Gandhi Bazaar to

Kote

police station. All roads leading to central parts of the city were heavily barricaded and only KSRTC buses were allowed to enter the city. Autos, taxis and city bus services remained suspended.


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