Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Feb 22: Six persons have been arrested for the murder of 26-year-old Harsha, the Bajrang Dal activist in Shivamogga in Karnataka, while more than 12 others were detained for questioning. The police sources said all the arrested had criminal records and were picked up from the neighbourhood where Harsha was stabbed to death on Sunday night.
The arrests were made even as stray incidents of arson and violence were reported in Tunganagar on Tuesday morning, police said. Additional Director General of Police C Pratap Reddy said a few vehicles were burnt in Tunganagar on Tuesday morning, despite prohibitory orders. In Bengaluru, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Gnanendra said over 12 persons have been detained in connection with Harsha’s killing and interrogation was on.
Harsha’s murder on Sunday night had set off a huge row in Karnataka with flashes of communal violence forcing the authorities to close down schools and colleges for a day which was further extended to Tuesday.
The police said of the arrested men, three had committed the murder. All are residents of Shivamogga, and aged between 20 and 22 years. “They all have a criminal past. Investigation is underway,” added Superintendent of Police Laxmi Prasad. The motive, however, was not yet known.
“All the accused have been identified and are being traced. We will arrest everyone involved, only then we can say what the motive was behind the murder,” said senior police officer Pratap Reddy. The government said the murder would be investigated from “all angles including the hijab row.” The six accused arrested have been identified as Mohammed Kashif, Sayed Nadeem, Afsifullah Khan, Rehan Sharef, Nihan and Abdul Afnan, Laxmi Prasad said.
Yesterday, the Karnataka government had ruled out any link to the row over hijab restrictions in schools and colleges, but Araga Gnanendra said: “Organizations behind the hijab row are also under the scanner, their role is also being looked at. Legal action will be taken against those who engaged in stone pelting yesterday.”
Although a social media post with derogatory references to Islam has been attributed as a possible motive for the murder, police sources described it as an “old issue” and said that a case had been filed against Harsha when the incident occurred in 2020. According to local police records, Harsha was involved in multiple cases of violence, including an incident of rioting in December 2020, when merchants at a cloth market in the city were attacked by a mob of pro-Hindutva activists following a communal flare-up.
Curfew has been extended till Friday morning in Shivamogga, where violence erupted on Monday during the funeral procession of Harsha. Around 5,000 people attended the procession that ended in arson, stone pelting and lathi-charge by the police.
Harsha — who was stabbed on Sunday night by a group of men who drove up in a car — was being watched, and he had received threat calls, sources said. His sister Ashwini, however, said he had not communicated any of it to his family. “I believe in the justice system. My brothers will give me justice. My brothers will never let got off this easily,” she said referring to her brother’s colleagues in the Bajrang Dal. The police have so far maintained that Harsha was killed over “personal” rivalry. “As of now, we strongly believe this has happened with regard to previous enmity. Further investigations are on,” a top police officer said. But the political leaders disagree. Several BJP leaders — including state minister KS Eshwarappa and Union Minister of state Shobha Karandlaje — have alleged a conspiracy behind the murder and demanded an investigation by the National Investigation Agency. On Monday, Eshwarappa blamed the murder on “Muslim goons” and accused Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar of instigating it with comments he made at the height of the hijab protests. BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh alleged that Harsha was killed by “jihadi fundamentalists” for his opposition to hijab at educational institutions.
The Karnataka government has blamed the local administration for the decision to allow the funeral procession. Violence erupted in Shivamogga on Monday during the funeral of Harsha, and amid the volatile situation, around 1000 police personnel, Rapid Action Force and the local police carried out a flag march in the area that witnessed violence.
As tension escalated, cars were set on fire and stone-pelting was reported. At least three persons, including a photo journalist and a policewoman, were injured. Several two-wheelers were either damaged or burnt. The police had to fire teargas shells and use lathis to control the crowds. Schools and colleges were declared shut and large gatherings were banned.
The Karnataka government, facing questions over the procession being allowed in a volatile situation, distanced itself from the decision. “Seeing (that there were a) lot of people visiting, the body was taken for last rites. It is the decision of the district administration,” said the Home Minister, appealing for peace. “We appeal to people not to allow any room for disturbing peace. The government will certainly arrest the criminals and get them punishment appropriately,” the home minister said. “These kind of murders should stop and it should end with Harsha’s murder. This is the commitment of the government and the police department. We are taking this case to the logical end,” the minister added.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka government arguing on the “hijab row” in the High Court on Tuesday contended that there was no restriction on wearing hijab in India with reasonable restrictions subject to institutional discipline. Countering the petitioner Muslim girls from Udupi district, who challenged the restriction on Hijab inside educational institutions, Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi said the right to wear the headscarf falls under the category of 19(1)(A) and not Article 25 as has been argued by the petitioners.
Entering its eighth day, the Karnataka High Court was hearing on various petitions challenging the ban on hijab in educational institutes in the state. The high court earlier on Tuesday said it wishes to dispose of the Hijab related case this week itself and sought the cooperation of all the parties involved.
Citing the example of France, where there is a total prohibition of hijab in public life, the AG contended that it doesn’t mean there is no Islamic religion in that country. “I am citing France to test whether hijab is essential.” he added. The AG asserted that there is no ban on wearing hijab in India, but every institution has internal regulation and discipline.