Reckless riding: Bajrang Dal leader falls off bike, dies; saffronists call it a murder!

Hassan, Jan 19: In an apparent case of reckless riding, a local leader of Bajrang Dal died after falling off his two-wheeler near Arsikere on Wednesday night. While the police call it an accident, the Hindutva outfits have raised suspicion it was a murder.

According to sources, Sunil (28), Bajrang Dal district co-convenor, was returning from Guthinakere jathre on his motorbike, when he lost balance and met with an accident around 11.45 pm.

He is believed to have lost control of the two-wheeler due to over-speeding. He fell with the vehicle and sustained serious injuries to his left shoulder and head. He bled to death due to serious head injuries, said the police.

“Preliminary analysis of the scene suggests that he died in an accident. The damage caused to the two-wheeler and the injuries on his body suggest this,” said an Arsikere police source. Deputy Superintendent of Police Sadanand Tippannavar and Circle Police Inspector Siddarameshwar visited the spot.

However, the saffron activists and relatives of Sunil have alleged that it was a murder. They claimed that Sunil was actively involved in Bajrang Dal activities and was murdered as a result.

His father Ranganath, a former member of the Arsikere City Municipal Council, has filed a complaint with the Arsikere Rural Police. On his demand, the police shifted the body to Hassan, where the autopsy was done. The police also permitted the RSS workers to keep the body for public viewing at their office.

A case has been registered on charges of rash driving causing hurt or injury (Section 279 of the IPC) and causing death by negligence (304 A).