Belthangady: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sharan Pumpwell has stirred controversy by stating that the recent stone-pelting incident at the residence of MLC Ivan D'Souza should have occurred much earlier. Speaking at a press conference organized by the VHP on Thursday to announce an event in Ujire, Pumpwell openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the attack.

"Dakshina Kannada is a district of patriots. Opposing anti-national statements is seen as a duty here, and someone has fulfilled that duty. I hold the district administration and police department responsible for the delay. If they had taken action against Ivan D'Souza for his statements earlier, this incident would not have happened," Pumpwell remarked.

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The VHP leader was referring to a statement made by Ivan D'Souza in which the MLC reportedly spoke about storming the Raj Bhavan in a manner similar to the protests against Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Pumpwell criticized the authorities for what he described as selective law enforcement.

"A case was registered against a statement opposing namaz on the road, and another against the Belthangady MLA. Why hasn’t a case been filed against Ivan D'Souza yet? The police are showing double standards, and that's why such incidents occur," he added.

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Noida (PTI): A 46-year-old businessman was burnt to death after his moving car caught fire in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddha Nagar district, police said on Tuesday.

According to police, the victim was identified as Rajkumar Singhal, who was engaged in the paint business. The incident occurred late on Monday night near Sorkha village under the Sector 113 police station area.

Station House Officer Krishna Gopal Sharma said Singhal was driving towards Parthala Chowk when his vehicle suddenly caught fire for reasons yet to be ascertained.

Singhal was unable to get out of the car and died in the blaze, the SHO said.

Fire tenders reached the spot after receiving information, but the car had already been gutted, police said. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and an investigation is underway.

Police suspect the presence of paint or other inflammable material in the car may have caused the fire to spread rapidly.