Hate speech: Police files suo moto case against Hindutva activist Pooja
Pooja had called for genocide of Muslims during a programme held on Feb 23
Vijayapura: The District Police have finally filed a suo moto case against Pooja Veershetty, a pro-Hindutva activist for her inflammatory speech made on Feb 23.
Gol Gumbaz police station has file the case under sections 295 (A), 505(2) and 506 of the Indian Penal Code for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings, creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes and criminal intimidation.
It may be noted that on Feb 23, Pooja had participated in the procession called by various pro-Hindutva outfits to protest against the killing Bajrangdal worker of Shivamogga.
Hundreds of people, including saffron-clad seers and supporters of rightwing organization had gathered outside Siddeshwara temple.
During which time, Pooja had given a call for genocide of the Muslims while referring to Hijab controversy. She had said that they ( Hindutva outfits) will not allow India to become a Hijab nation. “ If Muslims want to wear Hijab then Hindu will have to carry swords and will chop them off inch by inch “, she had said.
The statement drew strong criticism from various quarters and condemned such hate speeches that are aimed at creating communal division in the society.
Even Former Home Minister, M. B. Patil criticised the event and demanded police to file a suo moto case.
The pressure was reportedly mounting on the police also to take suo moto case against the girl for her highly objectionable statement.
“ What is appalling and unfortunate is that the police delayed in filing a case against the girl even after the video went viral and lakhs of people had watched it already”, said Srinath Pujari, a local activist.
He said that the delay in filing the case clearly indicates that the forces were working behind the area that were trying to prevent the filing of a case against the girl.
Pujari said that the police was forced to file the case only after it came under attack from various quarters for the delay.
M.C. Mulla, another activist who was demanding arrest of the girl, also echoed similar sentiments.
Expressing anguish over some political leaders for brainwashing innocent students and using them as scapegoats to achieve their political agenda, he appealed to students not to fall prey and spoil their careers.
“ The students should focus on their careers. The girl who was receiving cheers when she was giving inflammatory statements, has no knowledge that none of them will come to her rescue when she will be faced with legal issues. Her future will get destroyed and she will be facing legal hardship for years to come”, he said.
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Woman shot dead in Delhi; police suspect link to 2023 murder of her husband
New Delhi (PTI): A 44-year-old woman was shot dead at point-blank range in northwest Delhi's Shalimar Bagh on Saturday, with police suspecting the killing to be a fallout of the 2023 murder of her husband, an official said.
The deceased was identified as Rachna Yadav, a resident of Shalimar Bagh and the resident welfare association (RWA) president of her locality. According to police, she was shot in the head and died on the spot.
Police said Rachna was originally from Bhalswa village in north-west Delhi. Investigators suspect that the murder is linked to the killing of her husband, Vijendra Yadav, who was shot dead in 2023. The case concerning that murder is currently under trial.
"In the 2023 case, Vijendra Yadav was allegedly murdered due to previous enmity. Bharat Yadav and five others were named as accused. While five of the accused were arrested and are facing trial, the main accused, Bharat Yadav, is still absconding and has been declared a proclaimed offender," a senior police officer said.
Police said Rachna was the main witness in her husband's murder case, and her testimony was considered vital for the prosecution. Investigators believe her killing may have been aimed at weakening the case and intimidating other witnesses.
CCTV footage has surfaced in the Rachna Yadav murder case, clearly capturing the accused who allegedly shot her. Police said the assailant's accomplice was already waiting nearby on a sports bike bearing a Delhi registration number, facilitating a swift escape, according to an official.
Police said a PCR call was received at around 10.59 am at Shalimar Bagh police station, reporting that a woman had been shot.
Local police teams rushed to the spot and found Rachna lying on the road in a pool of blood. An empty cartridge was recovered from the scene, officials said.
According to the investigation, when Rachna was returning after meeting a neighbour, two assailants intercepted her. One of them allegedly stopped her and asked her name. When she identified herself, the attacker pulled out a firearm and shot her in the head before fleeing the spot along with his accomplice, police said.
Preliminary inquiry suggested that the woman was targeted, and the assailants appeared to have prior knowledge about her identity and movements.
"Crime Team and FSL teams were immediately called, and the scene of the crime was thoroughly examined. CCTV footage from nearby areas is being scanned to identify the assailants," Additional Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Bhisham Singh said.
Prima facie, it appears that the present case is linked to the earlier murder, he said. "We are re-examining all aspects of the 2023 case and the role of the proclaimed offender (Bharat)," Singh said, adding that multiple teams have been formed to trace the shooters and those who may have masterminded the crime.
Speaking to reporters, Kanika Yadav, the deceased's elder daughter, alleged that the murder was planned by Bharat.
"Some of the accused in my father's murder case are lodged in Tihar Jail. Despite that, they are planning such crimes. Bharat Yadav planned and executed my mother's murder," she alleged.
Kanika claimed her mother was killed because she was standing firm as a witness in her father's murder case.
"They were afraid that they would be convicted on the basis of her statement. That is why my mother was killed. My father was murdered in 2023, and the case is still pending before the court," she said.
Police said Rachna is survived by two daughters, one of whom is married, while the younger daughter lived with her. Security has been stepped up in the area, and further investigation is underway, police added.
