Bantwal remains on the edge as slain RSS worker’s body taken out in procession

Mangaluru, Jul 8: A tense atmosphere prevailed across the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada on Saturday as the saffron activists chose to take the mortal remains of stab victim to his hometown in Bantwal taluk through a procession.

Bantwal taluk remained on tenterhooks for the second day running as thousands of activists of Sangh Parivar are taking part in the funeral of Sharath Madivala, a 28-year-old RSS activist, who breathed his last at a hospital in Mangaluru last evening three days after he was stabbed by unidentified miscreants in B C Road.

However, no untoward incident reported in Mangaluru or Bantwal so far today. Earlier in the day hundreds of mourners had gathered in front of AJ Hspital from where the mortal remains of Sharath were taken in a procession to Bntwal.

The administration has extended prohibitory orders across Dakshina Kannada. Security has been tightened across the district. All shops have been closed in Farangipet and BC Road as part of precautionary measures.

CM Siddaramaiah, who was in Mangaluru yesterday, has warned of stringent action against people who disrupt communal harmony. "Some anti-social elements are bent on trying to disturb peace. We will see that no such organisation takes the law into their hands. I have asked the police to tackle the situation with an iron hand," he said.