SP confirms arrest of Bajrang Dal leader Bharat in Ashraf murder case

Mangaluru, Jul 2: Finally a senior police officer has confirmed the arrest of Bharat Kumar Kumdelu, a notorious criminal and Bajrang Dal leader, in connection with the coldblooded murder of SDPI activist Mohammed Ashraf Kalayi.

“We have arrested Bharat. Bharat will be produced in court after interrogation and police custody will be taken for further investigation,” said H Sudhir Kumar Reddy, superintendent of police of Dakshina Kannada.

Confirming arrest of prime accused Bharat Kumdelu, 30, a resident of Bantwal, C H Sudhir Kumar Reddy, superintendent of police, DK said that he is secured and is being interrogated. Bharat will be produced in court after interrogation and police custody will be taken for further investigation.

Ashraf (33), president of SDPI’s Ammunje zonal unit, was hacked to death by a gang of miscreants at Benjanapadavu in Bantwal taluk in broad daylight on June 21. Police have already arrested six persons in connection with the case and most of them have close ties with Hindutva organizations.

30-year-old Bharat had shared dais with RSS leader Prabhakar Bhat at a press meet in Mangaluru on May 28 wherein the latter had justified the attack on two Muslim passersby by rowdysheeters in Kalladka.

According to highly place sources, Bharat had planned the murder in Benjanapadavu. He himself had also collected weapons like sickle, knives and given to other accused.

Police said they had an intention to create communal violence after the incident. The murder plot was hatched by two rowdy sheeters - Dhivyaraj Shetty, who was arrested earlier, and Bharat Kumdelu.

The other accused are Pavan Kumar, 24, Pudu village, Bantwal; Santosh, 23, Thumbay village; Shivaprasad, 24, Bollari house, Thumbay; Ranjith, 28, resident of Pudu village and Abhin Rai, 23, Thenkabellur village.

Barring Santosh all the other have criminal cases registered against them. Abhin Rai was booked during Tipu Jayanthi violence in Bantwal, last year and a case was booked against Pavan in 2012 for placing pig head at a mosque in Bantwal to create communal tension.