Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 30: A man from Kerala was lynched by a mob near Kudupu on the outskirts of Mangaluru on Sunday, reportedly after an alleged pro-Pakistan slogan triggered outrage during a local cricket match. The incident has sparked concern, with 20 arrests made so far and both the home minister and district in-charge minister vowing firm action.
The deceased has been identified as Mohammad Ashraf, aged between 35 and 40, from Ullapalli near Manandawadi in Kerala. Police stated that his relatives have reached Mangaluru to claim the body. Initially registered as a suspicious death under Vamanjur police limits, the case was later converted to a murder investigation after post-mortem reports confirmed assault injuries.
Home minister G Parameshwara, addressing the media on Wednesday, said, “In Mangaluru, a person aged between 35 and 40 years was lynched. During interrogation, those involved claimed the man had shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. However, I want to clarify that this is merely a claim by the accused, and no evidence or witness has confirmed it yet. The investigation is ongoing.”
He added that the victim’s identity was still being verified through documentation and that the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness. “We are probing all angles, including whether there was any failure on the part of the police,” he said.
Parameshwara confirmed that 20 people have been arrested and more than 30 have been identified. The main accused has been identified as Sachin, an auto driver. Others arrested include Devadas, Saideep, and Manjunath. The husband of a former corporator is also being questioned.
The incident reportedly occurred during a cricket tournament when Ashraf allegedly got into an argument with Sachin. During the altercation, he is said to have shouted the slogan, after which he was attacked with a stick. When he tried to flee, the mob chased and assaulted him again. Preliminary investigation suggests around 30 individuals were involved in the attack.
Karnataka police have invoked Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a section specific to mob lynching that provides for life imprisonment or the death penalty.
District in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also condemned the incident and warned of strict action against those attempting to disrupt peace. “Our government will not tolerate any effort to incite communal disharmony. The murder of youth Ashraf is an act by malicious elements trying to disturb social peace,” he said.
He warned that vested interests may try to use such incidents to provoke communal unrest and tarnish the image of the government. “Dakshina Kannada was once known for harmony. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard that image,” he stated.
The minister appreciated the swift response by Mangaluru police in arresting the accused and called upon them to ensure that no opportunity is given for further unrest. “We are committed to Basavanna’s ideal that there is no greater religion than compassion,” he added.