A 26-year-old Hindu activist was hacked to death by unidentified men in Bharati Colony in Karnataka's Shivamogga town. Harsha, a tailor by profession, was a Bajrang Dal activist. With the incident triggering tension in the district, the schools and colleges in the district have been closed as a precaution.
According to local residents, five unidentified men had come to Bharathi Colony in a car on Sunday night. They carried machetes, chased Harsha and attacked him. The attackers seemed to be under the influence of ganja. The grievously injured Harsha was rushed to the hospital by the local residents in an autorickshaw, but he did not survive the assault. Harsha had escaped attacks twice in the past. But this time, he was not as lucky.
Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, who expressed shock and grief, said, “We have got some leads and five culprits have been identified. They will be caught soon. It is learnt, there had been similar attacks on Harsha in the past. He was a Bajrang Dal activist and worked very hard during the pandemic to provide relief to those affected.”
“My younger brother is lying dead just because he used to chant 'Jai Ram, Sri Ram'. Just because he called himself 'Hindu Harsha'. Yesterday night, he left home to have dinner. Around 8.30pm, we got a video and people told us my brother had been murdered. Can't imagine how people can be so cruel. Don't they have children? I pray to all youth, both Hindus and Muslims, be good children to your parents. Forget about the rest,” said Harsha's elder sister.
Harsha's father demanded justice from the home minister. He also told his son was under threat for the last two years as he was a Hindu activist.
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Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa alleged that the culprits were goons belonging to a particular community. “The Congress leaders like D.K. Shivakumar giving false statements over saffron shawls being distributed during anti-hijab protests in Shimoga has emboldened the Muslim goons, which was never the case earlier,” said Eshwarappa.
Congress MLA Priyank Kharge said the incident only reflected on the poor work by the home minister. “The murder has taken place in home minister's own district. The state intelligence has failed,” said Kharge.
