Two more arrested in Abdul Basheer murder case

Two more suspects were arrested in connection with the murder of Abdul Basheer in Mangaluru, who was attacked allegedly in retaliation to the killing of Hindu activist Deepak Rao on January 3.

The two people arrested yesterday have been identified as Lateesh (24) and Pushparaj (23), from the neighbouring Kasaragod district in Kerala.

Earlier, four people were arrested in connection with the murder.

A series of killings of Hindu activists in Dakshina Kannada has triggered a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and BJP in recent months.

Abdul Basheer (47) who was assaulted by four assailants succumbed to injuries at a hospital here on January 7.

He was attacked at Kottara Chowki near here within hours after Deepak Rao (28), associated with Bajrang Dal and BJP, was hacked to death at Katipalla.

The two murders had triggered tension in the communally-sensitive Dakshina Kannada district.

The BJP has alleged that the Congress government had allowed "jihadi forces" to have a field day and indulge in "wanton killings" of Hindu workers in pursuance of its "vote-bank politics" and minority appeasement.

According to BJP, the number of Hindutva workers who have fallen to the "murderous agenda of jihadi forces" in the state has risen to 22 so far.

On the other hand, the Congress has charged the BJP with polarising the sensitive situation in the region with an eye on the upcoming Assembly polls due early this year.