CM, Congress leaders hit out against BJP over Kumta violence

The state Congress leaders on Monday hit out at the the BJP over the incidents of violence in Kumta.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the BJP was trying to politicise Paresh Mesta's death, and thereby instigating violence in the region. Mesta was murdered in Uttar Kannada's Honnavar last week.

Terming his death as "unfortunate", Siddaramaiah said that the BJP was unnecessarily provoking the people of Kumta. He also said that the government had not taken any action as it was awaiting the post mortem report, the chief minister told reporters, reacting to the BJP's accusations that the Congress was responsible for the violence in Kumta.

"As the elections are nearing, the BJP is playing politics over Mesta's death. The government cannot take action until the post mortem report is furnished and evidence is corroborated," he said, adding that the saffron party was trying to polarise votes by foisting communal hatred.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that he would reveal the complete details about the incidents on Tuesday.

Reddy said that IGP (Western Range) Hemanth Nimbalkar had been monitoring the entire region for the last four days. "The post mortem report will determine the actual cause of death. But the BJP leaders think that they are certified doctors -- that they can determine the cause of death by merely looking at the body," he shot back.

KPCC Working President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the police department had been given complete freedom to probe the matter, and that action would be taken against the guilty.