Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Jan 4: As activists went around asking shops and establishments to close down immediately after the news of Deepak Rao's murder spread, Suratkal, Krishnapura, Ganeshpura, Kana-Bala and nearby areas wore deserted look like in the case of bandh. Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Vedike have called for bandh in Suratkal and Katipalla areas on Thursday January 4. Leaders of these two organizations, Bhujanga Kulal and Kishore, urged the people to voluntarily observe bandh today.
Reports which came in on Thursday morning said that the police, who denied permission to hold funeral procession, shifted the body of Deepak to Katipalla without bringing it to the knowledge of anyone. This was done in view of security and safety concerns. However, the police earned the ire of activists of BJP and Hindu organizations who had planned to hold funeral procession.
Body of Deepak Rao reaching Katipalla
State food and civil supplies minister, U T Khader, has condemned the murder of Hindu activist, Deepak Rao, at Katipalla on Wednesday. "This is the handiwork of forces which do not want peace to settle in the society. I congratulate the police who acted swiftly and arrested the culprits in a well-executed operation," he stated.
MLA, Mohiuddin Bava, who was in New Delhi, rushed back to the city upon coming to know about the murder. He met relatives of Deepak Rao and consoled them. Bava promised to provide permanent employment to the brother of Deepak and also to make efforts to get maximum compensation from the government to his family. He also stated that he has already instructed the concerned to take stringent action against the culprits. Besides congratulating the police for chasing the accused and arresting them, he requested the general public to remain peaceful.
Chief whip of the opposition in the state legislative council, Capt Ganesh Karnik, has strongly condemned this murder. He accused the state government of going soft on murders of Hindu youth in the state, on account of which he felt, there is an increase in the number of such incidents.
MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, has urged the state government to disburse compensation of Rs 50 lac to slain Deepak's family and also to hand over investigation into the incident to National Investigation Agency. He said these murders signify beginning of terrorist activities in the area, duly adding that he does not trust the investigation that would be conducted by the state government.
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