Several Cong Muslim leaders resign in Dakshina Kannada over L O alleged neglect

    Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 29 (PTI) In a dramatic turn of events, several Muslim leaders of the Congress party in Dakshina Kannada district announced their resignation from party posts during an emergency meeting held at Shadi Mahal in Bolar on Thursday.
    The move comes in protest against the deteriorating law and order situation in the district and what they allege is the government's failure to protect minorities.
    The decision comes in the wake of the killing of a 32-year-old man in Bantwal taluk.
    The victim, Abdul Rahiman, and his 29 year-old co-worker Kalandar Shafi, were unloading gravel when two motorcycle-borne youth made a murderous assault on them with a sword on Tuesday.
    While Rahiman succumbed to his injuries, Shafi is undergoing treatment. Rahiman's murder comes close on the heels of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty's killing on May 1 in the communally sensitive Dakshina Kannada district.
    Prominent among those who resigned were M S Mohammad, State General Secretary of the Minority Cell, and K Abdul Rauf, District Vice-President.
    The resignations were declared from the stage itself, following intense pressure from grassroots workers during the meeting.
    The leaders accused the state’s Home Department of failing to curb a spate of murders in the region and expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as the continued marginalisation of Muslims in the district.
    Shahul Hameed, President of the Minority Cell, informed in the meeting that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had sought a week's time to address their concerns. However, the leaders went ahead with their decision, alleging persistent neglect.
    Congress workers and office-bearers from booth-level to state-level minority wings are said to have tendered mass resignations.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)