Mangaluru tense for second day over murder; bandh in Surathkal, surrounding towns

Mangaluru, Jan 4: The situation in parts of Mangaluru taluk remained volatile for a second day running, with thousands of activists of BJP, VHP and Bajragng Dal gathering in Katipalla and imposing bandh in Surathkal and surrounding areas on Thursday in protest against the murder of Deepak Rao, who was hacked to death yesterday by four miscreants.

The police on Thursday morning aborted the funeral procession planned by the saffron groups by secretly transporting the dead body of the victim from AJ Hospital to his home in Katipalla, about 15 kilometres from the city. However, thousands of people gathered in front of the victim’s house and staged protest to exert pressure on the police to allow them to take out funeral procession in spite of the prohibitory orders.

Meanwhile, all the business establishments and education institutions in Surathkal, Krishinapura, Katipalla, Chokkabettu and surrounding areas remained closed on Thursday. City buses and auto rickshaws too remained off the road in the area. Yesterday miscreants had pelted stones at two buses and damaged windows.

Even though police managed to catch all the accused in the murder case, the miscreants continued to unleash violence in the area and attacked two innocent Muslim youth last evening without any provocation.

Taking note of the situation, the home department directed M Chandra Sekhar, former police commissioner of Mangaluru City Commissionerate, to rush to the trouble-torn zone and take immediate measures to bring the situation under control. At least six KSRP platoons and over 500 personnel have been deployed in the affected area to prevent any untoward incidents.

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Mangaluru: Miscreants attack two innocents with lethal weapons after Katipalla murder

Mangaluru: Cops abort funeral procession; transport Deepak’s body secretly to Katipalla

Katipalla murder: Cops nab four after dramatic chase; 1 injured in firing

Undeclared bandh in Surathkal area after murder; stones pelted at buses

Prohibitory orders clamped in Mangaluru after Katipalla murder

Mangaluru: Youth hacked to death at Katipalla in broad daylight