Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Feb 21: Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) convenor Ravi Raj on Tuesday February 21 claimed that HJV has no connection with the murder of Pratap Poojary who was recently killed at Maroli.
Pratap was murdered allegedly by activists of HJV in the early hours of February 18. Though Manikanta who was accompanying Pratap was the target of the attack, it was Pratap who was killed. Both Pratap and Manikanta belonged to HJV. The outfit however has denied their allegiance.
Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday February 21, he said, "Pratap Poojary was recently murdered at Maroli and Manikanta was injured in the incident, Both the victims have been labelled as Hindu Jagarana Vedike members, but neither of them has any connection with our organisation.
"Pratap Poojary was involved in several cases which have nothing to do with our organisation. Someone is hatching a conspiracy to slander the name of Hindu Jagarana Vedike by linking our organisation to the murder case," he claimed.
He also claimed that the attackers too were not from HJV and demanded the police to probe the matter and take stringent action against the culprits. "Our organisation is known for holding awareness programmes and we do not indulge in any such activities. When we organise certain programmes, a large number of people gather. It does not mean that everyone is from Hindu Jagarana Vedike. If we take the home stay attack case, several people including rickshaw drivers and others were taken into to custody, but all cannot be considered as Hindu Jagarana Vedike members."
HJV secretary Subhas Padil, convenor Amith Kumar, Ganapathy and others were present.