Praveen Nettar Murder Case: Three key suspects involved in BJYM leader murder arrested
Mangaluru, Aug 11: In a major breakthrough, three key accused in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Nettar's murder case have been arrested, a senior police officer said on Thursday.
"Dakshina Kannada police have secured the three persons who were part of the hit squad in Bellare case in the murder of Praveen Nettar. We had definite information so we have arrested them from Talapady on the Karnataka-Kerala border," the Additional Director General of Police Alok Kumar said.
Those arrested are: Shia alias Shiabuddin, Bashir and Riyaz Anthadka.
All the three are natives of Dakshina Kannada district, Kumar told reporters, adding that already seven others have been arrested for being part of the conspiracy and who did the recce for the assailants.
"We are going to thoroughly question them why Nettar was selected as the target," the ADGP said.
"They will be questioned as to who else had helped them, which places they went, who gave them shelter and assisted them financially. All these things will be probed and after that we will hand over them to the National Investigation Agency as the government has already ordered giving the case to the NIA," Kumar said.
He also said that six vehicles, comprising five two-wheelers and a four-wheeler, were used in committing the murder. The weapon that was used has to be seized. After the probe is over the case would be handed over to the NIA, Kumar said.
The assailants had allegedly used a motorbike which had a Kerala registration.
The murder of Nettar (aged 32) who was hacked to death outside his poultry shop at Bellare in Dakshina Kannada district on July 26 had led to tension in parts of the district.
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Will remain CM till high command wishes: Siddaramaiah
Belagavi (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday reiterated that he will remain as the chief minister as long as the Congress high command wants him to continue.
He also said that his party has got a mandate for five years to rule and will also come back to power after 2028 assembly elections.
"I am saying this very clearly. We have high command. We abide by their decision. Whatever high command says is ultimate," Siddaramaiah told the Assembly.
The leadership issue popped up in the Assembly during the question hour.
Congress MLA from Kunigal, H D Ranganath, alleged that the farmers in his constituency were not getting short-term loan from the District Central Cooperative Bank (DCC Bank) whereas farmers from neighbouring Madhugiri constituency got short term loans worth Rs 100 crore.
Ranganath, who is loyal to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and wants to see him as the next CM, alleged that the farmers of his constituency are being discriminated against.
K N Rajanna, who is considered to be a Siddaramaiah loyalist, represents the Madhugiri segment.
Replying to Ranganath, Siddaramaiah assured him that if there was any discrimination then he would rectify it.
"Hope Ranganath trusts me," the CM said.
The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, R Ashoka, quipped that the discrimination appeared to be intentional.
The CM retorted, "Don't add fuel to the fire. Opposition is meant for adding fuel."
Ashoka replied, "It means there is fire. Ranganath is performing poojas to see that D K Shivakumar becomes CM."
Ashoka also said it does not matter if the Opposition is adding fuel, but the concerning matter is that the ruling Congress MLAs are involved in creating unrest.
Siddaramaiah reprimanded Ashoka, saying that he should keep quiet when the ruling MLAs are silent.
Ashoka said, "They are not quiet sir. They are doing poojas every day. They want to see Shivakumar as CM. I am reading it in the newspapers every day."
To this Siddaramaiah said, "Even if you try to instigate, no one from our side will react… All 140 MLAs are standing in unison."
The Leader of Opposition then sought to know whether he would remain CM for full five years.
In reply, Siddaramaiah said, "Why are you asking me this question. People have given us a mandate to rule for five years."
The chief minister said, "The voters of Karnataka have blessed us to complete a five-year term. We were blessed by people twice -- in 2013 and 2018 assembly polls, whereas the BJP never got a public mandate and they will not be blessed by the voters in future to hold power single-handedly. They will remain in the opposition forever."
BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar pointed out that, "Siddaramaiah had been saying 'I will remain as chief minister for five years’, but now he is saying ‘we will rule for five years’. There is a shift from the singular term 'I' to the plural term 'we'."
To this, the chief minister said, "We are running the government. It was always plural (collective). It was never an individual affair. I am the CM till now and will remain in the post till the high command wishes."
The power tussle between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar refuses to die down though the two leaders tried to clear the air through their 'breakfast diplomacy'.
