Sharath Madivala murder: 2 arrested for aiding assailants
Sharath was attacked by unknown assailants at his Udaya Laundry at BC Road around 9.30 pm July 4.
Mangaluru: After over one and a half months, the Dakshina Kannada police have made some breakthrough in RSS activist Sharath Madivala murder case with the arrest of two people, including the Chamarajnagar district chief of Popular Front of India (PFI). The arrested have been accused of providing shelter to the perpetrators.
Sharath was attacked by unknown assailants at his Udaya Laundry at BC Road around 9.30 pm July 4. The incident took place despite ban orders under Section 144 being in place at Bantwal. Sharath succumbed to his injuries on July 7.
The Western Range IGP had formed a seven-member team, which had picked about 30 people for questioning in connection with the case. The team had gone to Maharashtra, Kerala, Bengaluru, Shivamogga, Karawar and other places in search of the accused.
“Our team has arrested two people Abdul Shafi alias Shafi (36) of Indiranagar, Bantwal and Chamarajanagar Unit PFI president Khaleevullah (30). While Shafi was arrested in Bantwal, Khaleevullah was picked up at Chamarajanagar," IGP Harisekharan told reporters.
“After producing them before the court, we will request for their custody. We have also got information about the other accused and they will be arrested soon," he said.
“The two accused had provided shelter and vehicles to the assailants and also helped them escape," the officer said.
Murder had taken political colour
The attack and death of Sharath had taken a political and communal colour in the coastal area. Sharath was murdered after communal incidents at Kalladka and a few days after the murder of SDPI leader Ashraf at Benjanapadavu in Bantwal.
Sangh Parivar leaders claimed it to be a communal attack and held a massive protest at BC Road. After Sharath died, saffron outfits had taken out a massive procession of his body. The procession turned violent after some miscreants threw stones at those taking part in the procession at BC Road. Cases were booked against leaders of both communities.
Sangh Parivar and BJP leaders, including BJP state president B.S. Yedyurappa, had demanded the immediate arrest of the accused.