Mysore: PFI activists held

Button knife and mobile phones confiscated

The activists were whisked away by City police as they were coming out after addressing a press conference at the Mysore District Journalists’ Association building, late in the afternoon. They were bundled into a van and taken away. They have been charged with inciting violence and preventing police from discharging their duties, in connection with the Thursday’s violence in Mysore city.

A button knife and mobile phones were confiscated from the activists after the police searched them.

Kaleem and his men blamed Sri Rama Sene Chief Pramod Mutalik, who visited the area 26 days ago, for the violence. “Police did not act fast and remove the carcass of the piglet. The delay led to escalation of violence. The government has not acted impartially in this manner,” they said, pressing for a CBI inquiry into the incidents.   

Police sources said that Kaleem and his associates had also played a ‘crucial’ role in the Kytamaranahalli violence, which took place three months ago.

The activists allegedly have been named in the FIR lodged in connection with the Thursday’s incidents, and were asked to surrender at Udayagiri police station.

Limping back

It is also said that sharp and potentially harmful weapons were seized from the houses of several persons in Udayagiri and surrounding areas, including that of PFI activists as well.
Meanwhile, riot stricken areas including Udayagiri, Shantinagar, Ghousia Nagar, Kyatamaranahalli and others, where  Section 144 Cr PC and night curfew are in force, are limping back to normalcy .

Two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF), and 19 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police along with additional police force have been deployed in the area to avoid untoward incidents.

Modes of public transport which had been partially stopped since Thursday were allowed to enter the area since Monday, as the situation seemed well under control, according to police sources.

Meanwhile, the BJP Yuva Morcha City Unit President Giridhar who was assaulted on Friday evening outside his house is said to be continuing on life support system. His condition is still termed critical, according to police sources.