Protest in B’luru: BJP men held

Demonstration staged over trader being assaulted for playing ‘Hanuman Chalisa’

Senior BJP leaders including Union Minister Shoba Karandalaje were taken into preventive custody after they staged a protest against “deadly’’ attack on a youth for playing Hanuman Bhajans.

A 26-year-old Muksh, was dragged out of his mobile shop and assaulted by a gang of six – Suleman, Shah Nawaz, Rohit, Danis, Dadiaya also known as Taruna around 6.25 pm on Sunday (March 17).

Of the six, the Halasuru Gate police have arrested Rohit, Suleman and Shah Nawaz under IPC section 304 (attempt to murder) and are still searching for the three other accused.

Demanding action against the accused, BJP leaders led a protest from Mukesh’s shop in Nagarth Pete, one of Bengaluru's oldest commercial places located close to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) head office. BJP leaders accused the Congress government of sheltering the criminals who attacked Mukesh for 'playing Hanuman Chalisa.'

“Is playing Hanuman Chalisa a crime?’’ ashedk Karandalaje. “The attackers are emboldened to attack Hindus as they feel their government (Congress) is in power. They feel they are safe,’’ she said.

The protest led to a few tense moments as the police refused any procession and took Karandalaje, Bengaluru South and Central Lok Sabha members

Surya and PC Mohan into preventive custody. BJP workers and other Hindu outfit activists were shouting slogans Jai Sriram and Jai Hanuman while courting arrest.

Shops and other commercial establishments remained shut in the first half of the day.

The police have deployed four units of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) to curb any untoward incidents. BJP leaders were later released.