Finally, the progress on Gauri Lankesh murder investigation has reached a stage of filing the chargesheet. The police have submitted a chargesheet on two young men with Sangh Parivar background. The anxiety of Gauri Lankesh murder being hushed up as Prof Kalburgi murder has been put to rest, at least tentatively. The murder happened when former CM Siddaramaiah government was in the office, and the crime took place almost late evening. People had expected the arrest of culprits much faster than this, but then again, the agencies took a disappointingly longer time.

There are allegations that Gauri Lankesh’s family didn’t cooperate with the investigating agencies. The inconsistency of statements of Indrajit Lankesh, Gauri’s brother, have often contributed to the delay in derailing the investigation. Media has also contributed much in this regard. Yet, this has been a big achievement on part of the police to have made a headway into this progress. However, the chargesheet says the ones arrested are not those who planned the murder, but only those who executed it. This is disappointing since a delayed investigation and submission of witness and circumstantial evidence would mean the culprits will come out free within no time. So, the arrest of Naveen and Praveen are not the final sigh of relief for friends and family of Gauri. The supari killers may have been paid by certain elements in the society and their role has to be probed to get to the root of this bigger issue of hating dissidence. The ones who killed Gauri may not even have known why they were asked to kill her. Money may be their only link to this crime.

Such Supari killers are not hate mongers. They are just the tools at the hands of hate mongers who want every dissident voice wiped off from the face of earth. Had the Kalburgi killers been nabbed, there were chances of Gauri being alive today. If the killers of Gauri aren’t nabbed with their network, it may lead to another such incident and loss of a significant life. There are already plans of writer Bhagwan being targeted. The culprits often hide themselves amidst the general public. And they are also confident that they’d be let off for want of evidence. Hence even the hands of legal system is bloodied with Gauri’s murder.

One young fellow had celebrated Kalaburgi’s murder in Dakshina Kannada. He was arrested and let off on bail. The same fellow used the loopholes in legal frame work and gathered courage to kill another youngster Harish Pujari In Bantwal. His agenda was to create unrest among Hindu and Muslims. Had he been punished for his behavior earlier during Kalburgi’s incident, a life would have been saved and Bantwal wouldn’t have witnessed communal tensions.

Just the way as Sangh Parivar’s ideology is responsible for the threatening situation and murder of intellectuals, loopholes in legal frame work has also greatly contributed to the emboldening of criminals. Communal tensions are being dealt with some sort of soft handed approach and this has led to communal mindset even among law implementing agencies. Political pressure could also be another reason.

Many assume delivering hate-speeches can make them leaders. If cases are lodged against them, they wouldn’t even dare repeat their crime. Former MLA Ramanath Rai couldn’t arrest Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat despite having declared that he’d do that. Had he done that, the state would have been far safer today and many people would have been alive amidst us.  

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Belthangady: Another incident involving individuals allegedly dancing indecently, dressed in a denigrating manner, and insulting the Azan (Islamic call to prayer) has come to light under the jurisdiction of the Venoor Police Station. A case has been lodged against 17 accused persons and 20 to 30 others who were allegedly involved in the act.

Based on a complaint filed by Mohammed Rafiq, a resident of Poyyegudde house in Padangady village, a case has been registered at Venoor police station against Savya residents Vasantha, Rajesh, Harish, Peradi residents Dayanand, Ranganath, Mohan, Shamit, Ravi, Ramesh Kulal, Suresh, Ashoka Kulal, Dhanush Haradottu, Harish Banthottu, Ramesh R.K, Suresh Barottu, Pramod, Prakash Peradi and 20 to 30 other individuals.

A case has been registered under Section 353(2) along with Section 3(5) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 for disrespecting Islam, Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic prayer Azhan by wearing Muslim attire during a 'Purusha Kattuna' event on April 14th.

A video of the incident is reportedly circulating on various social media platforms. In the purported video, a group of individuals can be seen wearing traditional Muslim attire and allegedly insulting the Azan by dancing indecently during a 'Purusha Kattuna' (a ritualistic dance performed by men of different castes, typically marking the end of agricultural activities) event held in Peradi near Venoor.

This incident follows a similar episode reported just days ago during a Purushara Puja ceremony, where Islam was allegedly disrespected. A complaint had already been filed with the Venoor police regarding that incident.

Leaders from the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) had also approached the Venoor police and submitted an official complaint, and demanded immediate action against those who are responsible for creating unrest in the society by wearing Muslim attire and hurting religious sentiments.

The Venoor police have now registered a case following widespread outrage over the alleged video denigrating Islam.

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