CM blames BJP for spreading hate after poison plot to oust Muslim HM in Belagavi school
Siddaramaiah says communal forces sow hatred for politics; calls poisoning a communal hate crime
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed deep shock over the poisoning of drinking water at a government school in Belagavi district, which he said was an attempt to force the transfer of a Muslim headmaster. Condemning the act as a manifestation of rising communal hatred, the CM called on BJP leaders to introspect and reject politics of hatred.
The disturbing incident occurred in Hulikatti village of Savadatti taluk, where poison was reportedly mixed into the drinking water meant for schoolchildren. The accused, including Sagar Patil, taluk president of the Sri Rama Sene and two others, allegedly wanted the Muslim headmaster removed from the school.
"Even now, I cannot believe that such cruelty and hatred could arise in the land of the Sharanas," Siddaramaiah said. "What kind of society have we become where children are targeted in the name of religion?"
The CM linked the incident to a larger political agenda. “BJP leaders who sow seeds of hatred in the name of religion to reap political benefit must engage in serious self-reflection,” he stated, adding, “Will Pramod Muthalik, Vijayendra, or R. Ashoka take responsibility for such heinous acts?”
The incident, which happened nearly two weeks ago, left several students unwell, though no fatalities occurred, thanks to immediate medical intervention. Siddaramaiah praised the police for uncovering the alleged plot in time and preventing what could have been a "massacre of innocent children."
"This is clear proof of how religious fundamentalism and communalism can lead to the most heinous crimes," the CM said.
Reiterating the government's commitment to fight hate speech and communal violence, Siddaramaiah said a special task force has already been established to monitor and act against such threats. “We are taking all possible legal steps against those responsible,” he assured.
He concluded with a call to citizens: "If our efforts to stop such forces are to succeed, the public too must raise their voice, resist, and file complaints. I still believe that the number of people who want to live in harmony far outweighs those driven by hate."
The Chief Minister expressed full faith in the judicial system and assured that justice will be served.
ಬೆಳಗಾವಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಸವದತ್ತಿ ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಹೂಲಿಕಟ್ಟಿ ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಶಾಲೆಯ ಮುಖ್ಯೋಪಾಧ್ಯಾಯರು ಮುಸ್ಲಿಂ ಸಮುದಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸೇರಿದವರು, ಅವರನ್ನು ತಮ್ಮ ಊರಿನಿಂದ ಬೇರೆಡೆಗೆ ವರ್ಗಾವಣೆ ಮಾಡಿಸಬೇಕೆಂಬ ದುರುದ್ದೇಶದಿಂದ ಶಾಲಾಮಕ್ಕಳ ಕುಡಿಯುವ ನೀರಿಗೆ ವಿಷ ಹಾಕಿದ ಶ್ರೀರಾಮ ಸೇನೆಯ ತಾಲೂಕು ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಸಾಗರ ಪಾಟೀಲ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಒಟ್ಟು ಮೂವರನ್ನು…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) August 3, 2025
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Slain Australia beach shooting suspect native of Hyderabad: T'gana police
Hyderabad/Melbourne (PTI): Sajid Akram, the 50-year-old slain suspect in a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Australia, was an Indian citizen hailing from Hyderabad, Telangana Police revealed on Tuesday.
While he had migrated to Australia 27 years ago, Akram carried an Indian passport. Akram, along with his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, recently travelled to the Philippines on an Indian passport.
Akram, one of the two suspects in the mass shooting that has left 15 people dead and dozens injured, migrated to Australia in 1998 and had limited contact with his family here since then, the Telangana DGP's office said in a statement.
"Sajid Akram (50) is originally from Hyderabad, India. He completed his B.Com degree in Hyderabad and migrated to Australia in search of employment, approximately 27 years ago, in November 1998," it said.
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He married a European-origin woman before settling permanently in Australia. The couple have one son, Naveed (the second suspect who is in custody at a hospital in Australia) and one daughter, it said.
Naveed and Akram's daughter were born in Australia and are citizens of that country, the statement said.
On Tuesday, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett described the mass shooting as "a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State."
According to Australian authorities, the suspects were a father and son, aged 50 and 24. The older man, who was identified as Sajid Akram, was shot dead.
The Telangana police said Akram visited India on six occasions after migrating to Australia, primarily for family-related reasons such as property matters and to meet his elderly parents.
It is understood that he did not travel to India even at the time of his father's demise, the statement said.
The family members have further expressed no knowledge of his radical mindset or activities, nor of the circumstances that led to his radicalisation, police said.
"The factors that led to the radicalisation of Sajid Akram and his son, Naveed, appear to have no connection with India or any local influence in Telangana," Telangana police said.
Telangana Police further said it has no adverse record against Akram during his stay in India before his departure in 1998.
The state police said it remains committed to cooperating with central agencies and other counterparts, as and when required, and urged the public and media to avoid speculation or attribution without verified facts.
Quoting security sources, Australia's ABC News reported that Akram and Naveed travelled to the Philippines to receive "military-style training".
"Investigators are now examining the Akrams' ties to an international jihadist network, after discovering the pair travelled to Manila in early November," it said, quoting officials briefed on the investigation.
The Philippines Bureau of Immigration confirmed the pair arrived in the Philippines from Australia on November 1, declaring the southern city of Davao - a hotbed for Islamic militants since the 1990s - as their destination, it said.
"They left the country on November 28, 2025, on a connecting flight from Davao to Manila, with Sydney as their final destination," ABC News quoted the Philippines' Bureau of Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval as saying.
Sandoval said Akram entered the country on an Indian passport, while his son, Naveed, entered on an Australian passport.
In the Philippines, Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Office and Press Officer for Malacanang Palace Claire Castro said that the National Security Council (NSC) is currently looking into reports that the father and son duo travelled to the country a month before the attack.
