Dakshina Kannada police arrest 5 for murdering SDPI leader

Mangaluru: Within three days of the murder of SDPI leader Ashraf, which led to communal tension in the region, Dakshina Kannada police have arrested five people.

IGP (Western Range) P. Harishekaran said that the five arrested were Pavan Kumar alias Punda (24), Santhosh alias Santhu (23), Shivaprasad alias Shivu (24), Ranjith (28) and Abhin Rai alias Abhi (23), all from Bantwal taluk.

The investigation revealed that Bharath Kumdel and Divyaraj Shetty were the masterminds behind Ashraf’s murder at Benjanapadau in Bantwal.

Of the five arrested all except Santhosh have old criminal cases against them and most of them have cases related to communal incidents. 

Abhin is accused in three cases, including the riot of 2015 during Tipu Jayanthi celebration in the district. Shivaprasad is accused in three cases including a rioting case at Thumbe in Bantwal. Ranjith has two cases and Pavan six, including five of assault, and also a case where ham was placed in a mosque.

Though the police are continuing the investigation, they feel that Ashraf’s murder was to trigger communal tension in the area. 

“We will take steps to book them under Goonda Act," Mr Harishekaran said.

Working on a plot hatched by Bharath and Divyaraj, the accused had planned Ashraf’s murder for about a month and finally succeeded on June 21. 

Based on a tipoff, the police arrested the accused from Padubidri in Udupi.