Hindu youth killed by ‘Muslim goons’; cops tried to cover up: Karandlaje

Bengaluru, Dec 9: BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday demanded a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the death of Paresh Mesta, whose body was found in a lake in Honnavar on Friday.

"Mesta was brutally killed by some ‘Muslim goons’, who had tacit support of the police. The killing was covered up because Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was touring the Uttara Kannada district," Karandlaje charged, at a press conference.

"As many as 20 Hindu activists have been killed, so far. Siddaramaiah says he's also a Hindu. How many more Hindu lives must be lost? The CM should answer this," the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP demanded.

Honnavar has been tense following violence earlier this week. Tempers soared further after the body of Mesta, who went missing on the night of December 6 from the local Lord Shani temple, was found floating in a nearby lake.

According to Karandlaje, Mesta was at the temple that was under attack. "Stones and slippers were hurled at the temple despite prohibitory orders in place," she said, pointing to footages that show uniformed police personnel standing with a weapon-wielding mob.

"One of the accused, Azad Annigeri, has links to the ISIS. The Paresh Mesta case has to be probed by the NIA," Karandlaje said.

The former minister accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of weakening the police "through people like Kempaiah (home minister's advisor)."

She said the government was "least concerned" to strengthen the State Human Rights Commission where 80,000 cases were pending, according to her.

Also Read: Man found dead in Honnavar amidst communal tension; Bhat, Karandlaje to visit