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The Dakshina Kannada police on Thursday, May 29 arrested three men in connection with the murder of Abdul Rahiman (32), secretary of the Kolthamajal Jumma Masjid. The accused have been identified as – Deepak Poojary (21), Prithviraj (21), and Chiranthan (19) – all residents of Bantwal taluk. According to police, the trio has been taken into custody for further interrogation.
Rahiman, a native of Dakshina Kannada, was killed on May 27 while unloading sand from a pick-up truck along with his colleague, Kalandar Shafi. According to the First Information Report (FIR), a mob of around 15 men, armed with swords, knives, and rods dragged Rahiman from the driver’s seat and stabbed him multiple times. Shafi, who attempted to intervene, was seriously injured in the assault.
The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 103 (murder), 109 (attempt to murder), 118(1) (causing hurt with a weapon), 118(2) (causing grievous hurt), and Sections 190, 191(1), 191(2), and 191(3) (unlawful assembly and common object).
Rahiman’s murder is the third reported in Dakshina Kannada this month. Earlier, Ashraf, a Muslim migrant worker from Kerala with a mental illness, was lynched. A few days later, rowdy-sheeter Suhas Shetty was killed. In between, at least three Muslim men were attacked and hospitalised in separate incidents.
Meanwhile, several leaders of the Congress’ Minority Cell in Dakshina Kannada district resigned from their posts on May 29 in protest against the growing communal violence. The leaders are reportedly upset over the Congress government’s failure to curb the violence, which has claimed the life of Abdul Rahiman.