BJP Worker Killed By Cow Vigilantes 

Hindu Jagarana Vedike activists intercepted and attacked the duo with sharp weapons, suspecting they were transporting calves to an abattoir.

Udipi: In a gruesome incident, a BJP worker was killed and another person injured, allegedly by activists of a right-wing Hindu group near Hebri in Udipi district last night.

Hindu Jagarana Vedike activists intercepted and attacked the duo with sharp weapons, suspecting they were transporting calves to an abattoir. Praveen Poojary (29) succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Bramhavar, whereas his friend Akshay Devadiga (22) has also been admitted, but he is out of danger.

Seventeen people were arrested and a hunt was on to nab the others involved. A case of murder has been booked against Hindu Jagarana Vedike’s Srikanth and others. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said prima facie cattle trade-related business-related dispute may be the reason behind the killing of the BJP worker.

Coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have been reporting cases of cow vigilantism in the last several years.

Parameshwara also expressed concern over repeated incidents relating to beef and cattle trade in Karnataka. Coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada have been reporting cases of cow vigilantism in the last several years.

The incident comes days after the Home Ministry cracked the whip on cow vigilantism, asking all states not to tolerate anyone taking law into their hands in the name of protecting cows and to take prompt action against such offenders.

The Ministry advisory had come two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked cow vigilantes and asked people to beware of these ‘fake’ protectors trying to divide the society and the country.

He made these comments after his government and BJP came under attack over incidents of violence against Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.