Forum demands action against Sangh Parivar for communalising missing student's case

'Without any credible evidence, they fabricated a narrative claiming that the boy was kidnapped and that the Muslim community was behind the incident,' the forum's memorandum read.

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada Jilla Jathyatita Pakshagalu, Samanamanaska Sanghatanegala Janti Vedike has urged Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police to take action against MLAs and Sangh Parivar leaders who communalised the incident of missing of II PU student at Farangipete in Bantwal.

In a memorandum submitted to the SP, the members said the case of the missing teenager has come to a peaceful conclusion with his safe return.

“We appreciate the efforts of the police department in ensuring his safe recovery. However, from the moment the student's disappearance was made public, organisations affiliated with the Sangh Parivar, including Bajrang Dal, and BJP leaders have communalised the incident. They have attempted to create conflict between two communities and spread mistrust. Without any credible evidence, they fabricated a narrative claiming that the boy was kidnapped and that the Muslim community was behind the incident,” the memorandum read.

Additionally, the Muslim-majority areas around Farangipete were specifically targeted with false accusations. They even alleged that it is difficult for Hindus to move around in the Ammemar area, and those who do are under constant life threats.

The area is full of drug addicts, peddlers, and criminals. These baseless accusations aimed to criminalise an entire locality and community while inciting religious hate and prejudice.

Muneer Katipalla, coordinator said “instead of allowing a proper investigation into the case, protests and bandh was organised based on communal motives. The police department was put under immense pressure and falsely accused of being biased.”

On the day of the Farangipete bandh, BJP MLAs Bharath Shetty and Harish Poonja along with local leaders of the Sangh Parivar, allegedly delivered hate speeches. They apparently made baseless allegations against the Muslim community, intending to incite religious tensions.

Their statements sought to paint the entire Muslim community as criminals, claiming that Muslim-majority areas were dangerous zones filled with criminals, as per the forum's statement. They also supposedly falsely asserted that only Muslims are involved in drug and ganja peddling, he said.

"Such actions directly violate the law of the land and the secular principles enshrined in our Constitution. The police should file a suo-motu legal action against MLAs and others who communalised the case, labelled an entire community as criminals, and attempted to incite communal violence. Strict legal measures must be taken against them," said the delegation.

Congress spokesperson M G Hegde, CPI district secretary Shekar B, AAP’s S L Pinto, Muslim Okkuta President K Ashraf and others were present.