RSS worker’s murder: Cops illegally detaining innocent Muslims, says SDPI

Mangaluru, Aug 13: The Social Democratic Party of India has accused Dakshina Kannada district police of harassing innocent Muslim youths and their family members in the name of investigation into the unsolved murder case of RSS activist Sharath Madivala.

28-year-old Madivala was stabbed by unidentified miscreants in BC Road on July 4. He breathed his last at a hospital in Mangaluru on July 7. Police have failed to arrest the accused in the case so far.

Addressing a press meet here on Saturday, A M Athavullah, DK district general secretary, claimed that the district police so far detained nearly 50 youths from minority community illegally and harassing them and their families under the pretext of probe.

“SDPI will not oppose police questioning anyone in connection with the incident or formally charging them if their involvement is made out. But 'illegal detention' is not acceptable,” he said.

Citing one such example, he said family members of Sajipamunnur residents - Shafi, Muhammad Sahad and Abdul Nasir, picked up by police at Kadabahalli in Mandya on August 9 are still not sure where they are.

Police have not given any information about either their detention or their arrest to their family members, he said adding the family are in a state of quandary.  

Law mandates that police inform next of kin of any one detained in connection with a case and produce them before the magistrate within 24-hours, he said adding district police authorities are not following any of these laid down procedures in this particular investigation causing angst to the families.

The Bantwal sub-divisional police are passing the buck in this case adding to the agony of the families, he said adding that SDPI has list of at least 50 such youths who have been detained in connection with the murder investigation.

Police have subjected some of the youth to physical and mental torture, he alleged adding that if police do not follow due process in this and any other case, the party will be forced to undertake democratic means of protest against such illegalities.