Thousands of citizens gathered in protest in Mangaluru against the Karnataka Government over its discrimination in its response to the recent in recent murders of two Muslim youths in Dakshina Kannada district. The protest was organised by the Suratkal division of the Muslim Aikyathe Vedike (Muslim United Forum) at the Clock Tower in Mangaluru on Friday evening. It came a day after a district court in Mangaluru granted bail to one of the accused arrested over the murder of Fazil, a youth from Suratkal.
Speaking at the protest, Umar, father of Fazil, said, "No one's child should be murdered in this way. While we are waiting for justice, one of the accused was given bail by the court." The protesters sought compensation for the families of Fazil and Masood, two victims of communal violence in the district, and highlighted that a compensation of Rs 25 lakh was handed to the family of Praveen Nettaru, a BJP youth worker who was also a victim of communal violence.
The forum also asked the Karnataka government to hand over the investigation over the murders of Fazil and Masood over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The forum also highligted that charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) were filed against the accused in Praveen Nettaru's murder, similar charges were not applied against the accused in the murders of the Muslim youths.
Muslim organisations in Dakshina Kannada including the Popular Front of India, Sunni Students Federation, Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Muslim Organisations’ Federation joined in the protest.
A series of communal murders rocked Dakshina Kannada district in July starting with the murder of 19 year old Masood from Kalanja village on July 19. Five days later, BJP youth worker Praveen Nettaru from Bellare village in the district was murdered. In retaliation to this, Fazil, a daily-wage worker from Suratkal, was hacked to death outside a clothes store in the town. Police investigating his murder told reporters that the accused began planning Fazil's murder in response to the murder of Praveen Nettaru.
On Thursday, the district court in Mangaluru granted bail to Harshit, 28, one of the accused arrested over Fazil's murder. Harshit was accused of providing shelter to the alleged killers. Meanwhile, Police have made as many as 10 arrests over the murder of Praveen Nettaru with the investigation now being continued by the NIA.