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Hundreds of protesters gathered in Karnataka’s Koppal town on Monday, August 11, condemning the murder of 27-year-old Gavisiddappa Nayaka, allegedly over a relationship with a Muslim woman. Police however denied a communal angle in it. The protest was organised by the Akhila Karnataka Valmiki Nayaka Mahasabha – an organisation working for the welfare of Nayaka community (categorised as Scheduled Tribes).
The Valmiki Mahasabha conducted a protest march from Clock Tower to Jawahar Street. The protesters were seen marching wearing saffron shawls and holding pictures of Gavisiddappa.
To prevent any untoward incident Ballari range IGP Vartika Katiyar was stationed in Koppal overseeing security. She was seen prodding people along near the Yousufiya mosque.
Gavisiddappa, a resident of Kurubar Oni in Koppal, was killed by a group of four men on Bahaddur Bandi Road on August 3. The accused were identified as Sadiq Hussain Kolkar, Gesudaraj Patel, Nizamuddin, and Mehboob Sikkalgar.
After the murder, the prime accused, Sadiq Hussain Kolkar, turned himself in at the Koppal Town police station. The others were arrested later.
Koppal Superintendent of Police Ram L Arasiddi clarified that the murder stemmed from a personal matter and urged the public to ignore rumours. The SP said Sadiq admitted to killing Gavisiddappa out of jealousy, as the victim was in a relationship with a woman he loved.
SP Ram L Arasiddi told TNM that the police were divided between two major protests in the district. While the Valmiki protest was held in Koppal town, a protest demanding the protection of wakf properties was held in Gangavathi town 45km away. Each protest had a gathering of around 5,000 people, the SP said.
In view of this around 100 police personnel had to be brought in from the neighbouring district. He said that, in addition to senior officers, constables, and armed reserve staff from the district police, three platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police had also been requisitioned.
Meanwhile on August 7, local Muslim leaders visited Gavisiddappa’s family assuring that they would not extend any help for the accused’s family.
“We all live on the same street. Since the day of the incident, we have stood by the family. We held a meeting of our community and decided that no help would be extended to the family. We ourselves will go to the police and urge them to take action against those who have been trying to ruin the social fabric after the incident,” Koppal City Municipal Council president Amjad Patel said.
A day earlier, Vijayapura MLA and rabble rouser Basanagouda Patil Yatnal called on Hindus to “unite”. Following the murder, Yatnal announced plans to launch a campaign offering Rs 5 lakh to Hindu men who marry Muslim women.
After meeting Gavisiddappa’s family, Yatnal, a former BJP leader, claimed that no one intervened to stop the assault. He also accused the government of favouring minorities in “love jihad” cases and vowed to raise the matter in the ongoing Assembly session. Yatnal urged authorities to treat Gavisiddhappa’s death as a communal murder and to grant compensation.
BJP demands CBI investigation
The BJP has launched a campaign projecting Gavisiddappa as a “Hindu leader”. In a statement issued on Monday, August 11, BJP state president BY Vijayendra demanded that the investigation of the murder be handed over either to the CBI or the NIA.
“The whole of Koppal is under terror because of this murder. In the past, murders, anti-social forces which targeted Hindu activists, and terrorist activities used to occur in coastal Karnataka. Now the murders of Hindu activists have spread to Koppal and this is condemnable,” Vijayendra claimed.
BJP leader and former MP B Sriramulu alleged that Sadiq has links to the banned Popular Front of India.
CPI (M) demands accountability
Communist Party of India (Marxist) Nirupadhi Benekal told TNM that the party was demanding accountability for the murder.
“The family of the murdered man must get justice. Let the government give them suitable compensation or a job. But at the same time, the proper action must be taken against the accused,” he said.
Nirupadhi said that the incident should not be exploited for political reasons. “This murder should not be used for political purposes. Koppal is a peaceful society.”
Koppal-based writer Allamaprabhu Bettadur, who was associated with the Bandaya literary movement, told TNM that the murder was not communal as projected by the BJP.
“There is no such communal division here in Koppal. In the last few years, I myself have seen Nayaka girls marry Muslim men and the Nayaka families had no objections. Young people today have the right idea. They don’t look at caste or religion. It is the traditionalists who hold on to these ideas and misguide young people,” he told TNM.