After the brutal murder of an SDPI activist in Dakshina Kannada district’s Bantwal on Wednesday, the Mangaluru City Police have imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 within the city limits as well.
“Prohibitionary orders have been imposed in Mangaluru limits too from June 22 to June 27 midnight,” Mangaluru City Police Commissioner T R Suresh said.
The top cop said that the orders were issued in the wake of the tensions prevailing in Kalladka and nearby regions despite the existence of prohibitory orders in the area.
“Prohibitory orders were issued in Bantwal till June 21 after communal clashed between the two communities, which took place on June 13. Despite this, an SDPI activist was hacked to death. To ensure that communal violence does not erupt, prohibitory orders have been imposed in Mangaluru city limits as well,” Commissioner Suresh added.
More than three people cannot assemble together in public places, the Commissioner said.
On Wednesday, tension erupted in Bantwal taluk after a 30-year-old Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leader, Kalaai Ashraf, was hacked to death by six assailants near an engineering college at Benjanapadavu, located 23 km from Mangaluru.
SDPI Ammunje zone president Kalaai Ashraf, an auto driver, was on his way to buy beedis when the assailants attacked him, Dakshina Kannada police said.
“Ashraf ran into a nearby house for refuge but the attackers dragged him out and hacked him up with machetes,” a senior police official said.
Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner KG Jagadeesha imposed prohibitory orders in Bantwal, Sullia, Puttur and Belthangady till June 28 midnight. Security personnel from the western range have been deployed these sensitive areas.
“Ashraf was going to buy beedis after the SDPI’s Foundation Day Programme, when he was attacked by the assailants. Statements of the eyewitnesses have been recorded but the culprits are still absconding,” P Harishekaran, Inspector General of Police (Western Range), who is arrived in Bantwal, told media persons.
After news about Ashraf’s death spread, SDPI workers gathered in large numbers to protest in bantwal and police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd.
A bandh-like situation was witnessed in Bantwal as shops and other business establishments had shut down, fearing communal violence.
Twenty-five check posts have been set up in the four taluks and anyone found carrying weapons will be booked under the Goonda Act.
“Fifteen additional KSRP platoons, five DAR platoons and additional SPs from Chikkamagalur, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts have been deployed for bandobast in Dakshina Kannada,” Harishekaran said.