This story is from June 24, 2018

BJP member stabbed to death; Chikkamagaluru tense

BJP member stabbed to death; Chikkamagaluru tense
Representative image
CHIKKAMAGALURU/BENGALURU: Tension gripped Chikkamagaluru town on Saturday following the murder of BJP city unit general secretary Mohammad Anwar, 40, on Friday night.
According to an FIR registered by Basavanahalli police based on the complaint lodged by Abdul Kabeer, brother of the deceased, Anwar was returning from the house of BJP leader Raghunath when two bike-borne assailants attacked him with lethal weapons on Singarinilaya Road and stabbed him over 12 times.
Anwar was a resident of Uppalli.
“I got a call at 4am informing me that Anwar is no more and his body has been shifted to the district hospital,” Kabeer told police. He has named five persons as the suspects.
In his complaint, Kabeer alleged that it was supari killing and Anwar was murdered in connection with a mosque case and an eight-year-old incident. He said Anwar and his family had been receiving death threats over the phone.
Speaking to reporters, Kabeer alleged that persons who were imprisoned for chopping off Anwar’s lower limb nearly eight years ago are behind the murder. “A month ago, Anwar and other family members had received death threats over the phone. It was done from inside the jail,” he said.
BJP leaders and activists led by party state unit general secretary C T Ravi and MP Shobha Karadlaje held an hour-long protest in the city and urged police to ensure that party activists in the district aren’t targeted. Hundreds of business establishments were shut down for an hour after the party requested them to do so.

Meanwhile, local MLA C T Ravi added that Anwar showed “commitment” to the party, which may have cost him his life. “He was an active BJP member and was even given charge of two wards in Chikkamagaluru city during the recent elections. We are certain it’s the handiwork of supari killers. Police have to find out who gave the contract,” said Ravi.
BJP sources say names of Popular Front of India (PFI) and Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) are doing the rounds. “An active participant in the local mosque committee had an ongoing tiff with Anwar. The person also had links with anti-national and banned outfits,” said a party member from Chikkamagaluru.
As news of Anwar’s killing spread, Chikkamagaluru town witnessed tense moments since Saturday morning. Even though schools, colleges, banks and other services functioned as usual, BJP workers gathered in a large numbers at the party district office condemning the incident. Though a few party leaders tried to announce a bandh, they barely got any support.
Anwar’s body was brought to the BJP district office and prayers were held. His funeral was organised in the evening amid tight police security.
According to sources, police have detained five persons in connection with the murder. “Kabeer has named some members of an organisation which is active in coastal Karnataka and Malnad,” said sources. SP K Annamalai told STOI “We can’t name them till their role is confirmed,” adding that six teams have been formed to probe the case.
HDK shouldn’t repeat previous govt’s mistake
“Under the Siddaramaiah government, there was no protection for BJP activists. The situation is no different now. CM HD Kumaraswamy is struggling to protect his chair. As a result, criminals are roaming freely. Kumaraswamy should be very careful. He shouldn't repeat the mistake of previous Congress government, said Shobha Karandlaje, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP.
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