Communal violence at its peak under BJP rule in Karnataka: Congress leader B Ramanath Rai
Mangaluru, Dec 5: Communal violence has risen to its peak under the BJP rule in Karnataka and murders based on religion have become the order of the day, Congress leader Ramanath Rai alleged on Monday.
Addressing reporters here, he said the ruling party should own responsibility for turning Dakshina Kannada district into a "hotbed of communal politics".
He said none of the Congress leaders or workers appear in the FIRs registered in cases of communal violence in the district. Those responsible for community-based murders are roaming freely under the BJP dispensation, he alleged.
Rai said strict legal action should be taken against those who are behind murders based on religion disregarding their political affiliations.
A special investigation team (SIT) should be formed to probe such murders, he said.
The Congress leader took exception to the reported statement of BJP national secretary C T Ravi defending the inclusion of rowdy-sheeters in their party, saying it is natural that political leaders will be facing cases.
By his statements, Ravi has exposed the true colours and ideology of his party, the Congress leader said.
Rai was a minister in then CM Siddaramaiah's cabinet between 2013 to 2018.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
