Madikeri police arrested two persons in connection with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist DS Kuttappa’s death after a video clipping tipped off the duo’s involvement in violence.

Fifty-year-old Kuttappa died following stone-throwing in Madikeri town in Kodagu district over Tipu Jayanti on November 10. Kuttappa was the organising secretary of the VHP’s Kodagu district.

Times of India reported that the two who were arrested, Khalid from Arekadu village and Abdul Gafoor from Hudikeri near Siddapur, were remanded to judicial custody by a magistrate.

Madikeri circle inspector IP Medappa said that they were seen taking part in the violence in a video clipping gathered by police on November 10, TOI reported.

“All those who indulged in stone-pelting and damaged public properties are being identified and taken into custody,” Medappa said.

The newspaper reported that another team led by Madikeri district crime branch inspector Muralidhar are examining other video footages of the bandh. More people from Siddapur might be arrested.

Following the death of VHP activist, Karnataka government gave Kuttappa’s family compensation of Rs 5 lakh and ordered an enquiry.

Members of the VHP and BJP held a “Rasta Roko” protest on November 13, demanding  the government to increase the compensation from Rs 5 lakh to 25 lakh for the family of VHP leader Kuttappa and a thorough judicial probe into Kuttappa’s murder.

Initially, it was thought that Kuttappa had succumbed to injuries sustained due from stone-pelting. However, the police said he died after he fell off a building.

On November 10, Kodagu SP Vartika Katiyar told The News Minute, “There are rumours that the VHP leader died due to a bullet he was shot. But he died after he fell off a building of 15ft, he had scaled it as the pelting started.” 

This is an aggregation from Times of India