Case filed against Sharan Pumpwell for placing saffron flag in shops during Mangaladevi temple fair
Mangaluru, (PTI): The Mangaluru city police have registered a case against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sharan Pumpwell and his associates for allegedly indulging in communally divisive activities near Sri Mangaladevi temple here.
Pumpwell, along with a group of followers, had allegedly placed saffron flags at the shops owned by members of the Hindu community situated in the vicinity of the temple during the Dasara celebrations on Tuesday.
He also made a press statement urging the Hindu community to exclusively patronise shops owned and operated by fellow Hindus for their essential needs. These actions and statements have the potential to incite religious enmity, police said.
The case was registered at the Mangaluru South police station. The charges include causing communal disharmony and promoting divisive behaviour on religious grounds, sources said.
Mangaluru city police commissioner Anupam Agarwal, in a statement here on Wednesday, emphasised the police department's commitment to maintaining peace and security within the city.
Meanwhile, the joint forum of secular parties and organisations of Dakshina Kannada condemned the VHP call and said the right-wing outfit is dividing people by giving a call to boycott traders of other faiths.
Forum general secretary and DYFI state president Muneer Katipalla said people of all faiths have joined the Navaratri celebrations of Mangaladevi temple for centuries.
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Ranchi: Temple guard bludgeoned to death during robbery attempt, 3 held
Ranchi (PTI): A 60-year-old security guard of a temple in Ranchi was bludgeoned to death with a stone during a robbery attempt, police said on Saturday.
The incident happened late on Thursday at the Jagannath Temple in the Dhurwa Smart City area, they said.
"Three persons were arrested on Friday for killing the security guard. They confessed to the crime and told police that the victim had identified them. Therefore, in fear of being caught, they killed him by attacking him with a stone on his head," SSP Rakesh Ranjan said.
"Thereafter, they took money from the donation box and fled the scene. Two of them have criminal antecedents," he added.
Ranjan said the investigators recovered Rs 3 lakh in cash that had been robbed, the stone with blood-stained marks, and the iron rod used to break open the lock of the donation box kept there.
An FIR in this regard was lodged at the Dhurwa police station, he said, adding that the accused were sent to judicial custody by a court.
