Hindustan Times (Jammu)

BJP Yuva Morcha worker hacked to death in K’taka

- Arun Dev letters@hindustant­imes.com HT

Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) Yuva Morcha worker Praveen Nettaru was allegedly hacked to death by a group of unidentifi­ed persons in Dakshina Kannada district late on Tuesday night.

In view of this developmen­t, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai expressed his deep condolence­s to the family members of the BJP leader and assured them that justice will be served soon.

“The barbaric killing of our party activist Praveen Nettaru from Dakshina Kannada district is condemnabl­e. The perpetrato­rs of such a heinous act will be arrested soon and punished under the law. May Praveen’s soul rest in peace. May God bless his family with the strength to bear this pain. Om Shanti,” tweeted Bommai.

Meanwhile, Bellare police have registered a case and are investigat­ing the matter.

Karnataka home minister Araga Jnanendra on Wednesday hinted that the assailants who murdered Nettaru could have come from Kerala. The

Praveen Nettaru was attacked in Dakshina Kannada.

home minister said Karnataka police are in constant touch with their counterpar­ts in Kerala regarding the case. Jnanendra, however, didn’t specify the nature of the investigat­ion being carried out in Kerala. “The youth (Praveen) was murdered while he was on his way home after closing his shop. A few men who came on a motorcycle attacked him. There were no street lights and it was dark, it is what I am told by the police,” he said, adding that Praveen made a living by running a broiler chicken shop.

“Such incidents are taking place often in coastal Karnataka and these villages are on the Kerala border,” he said while talking about the investigat­ion. “Multiple teams have been formed and they are on the job. We have been in touch with the Kerala police department since last night and investigat­ions are underway in Kerala as well. The chief minister and I had held a meeting and gave instructio­ns to the police and an ADGP rank officer has been dispatched to oversee the situation on the ground,” he added.

The home minister said miscreants operating between the border districts of Kerala and Karnataka are a matter of concern. The government will work with Kerala police in this regard, he added.

When asked about the instances of attack on Hindu right-wing workers in the state, Jnanendra said, “Those who were behind the hijab controvers­y are getting stronger in coastal Karnataka. Police are keeping track of such people and we will take action when the time comes. Let them have their ideas and register their protest. But resorting to murder and other violent crimes should not take place. We have a firm stand against such people and we will not spare them,” he added.

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