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Priest arrested for making threat calls to Karnataka Sahitya Academy

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K S Bhagwan

Bengaluru: A man working as a hostel warden and priest has been arrested at Hubballi in north Karnataka for allegedly making threat calls to Karnataka Sahitya Academy for choosing rationalist free-thinker and writer K S Bhagwan for annual Honorary Awards for Lifetime Achievement for 2013.

The arrested person was tracked down yesterday through the mobile phone used by him, police said today.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru Central) Sandeep Patil said that the person was produced before the court and is now under judicial custody.

Following the announcement of the award, which will be presented to Bhagwan and others on November 7 in Dharwad, Sahitya Academy had complained about receiving a threatening call.

Academy officials had also said they had received several abusive calls for choosing Bhagwan for the award, following which police had provided security to the literary body.

Recently a letter threatening Bhagwan was delivered to his residence at Mysuru, which came close on the heels of the murder of another noted Kannada progressive thinker and scholar M M Kalburgi in Dharwad.

Bhagwan has incurred the wrath of right-wing activists after he allegedly disparaged the Bhagavad Gita while speaking at a programme in Mysuru in February this year.

Earlier, a Bajrang Dal local activist was arrested in Dakshina Kannada district, a day after Kalburgi was gunned down on August 30, for allegedly posting remarks on Twitter threatening Bhagwan for his derogatory remarks on the Bhagavad Gita.

(Agencies)

Prof. K S Bhagwan receives 20 threat calls in 2 hours

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K S Bhagwan

Mysuru: Prof. K S Bhagawan has reportedly received as many as 20 threat calls on his mobile in just 2 hours on Sunday September 20 evening.

Bhagawan later filed a complaint with this regard. The complaint stated that he received calls from several numbers between 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm. The callers spoke to the writer using foul language and also threatened to kill him.

He then stated that he switched off his phone at about 8.30 as he was unable to bear the calls.

Police sources say that they were trying to trace the call. The writer also received a threat letter which was sent to his residence on September 9. The security arrangements were tightened post Kalburgi’s murder in Dharwad. Bhagawan was provided police protection earlier too after warnings from organisations.

(Agencies)

Karnataka government announces reward to informants of Kalburgi’s assassins

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M M Kalburgi

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said the government has announced Rs five lakh to those who could provide clues about the murder of noted Kannada progressive writer and scholar M M Kalburgi.

The government has decided to give a reward of Rs five lakh to whoever gives information about Kalburgi’s murder. The identities of the informants would be kept secret, he told reporters here after meeting the families of Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, the rationalists who were killed in Maharashtra, and Kalburgi, who was shot dead at Dharward in Karnataka on August 30.

The families during their meeting with the Chief Minister demanded speedy investigation into the case and were assured by him that the culprits would soon booked.

“I told the relatives that the investigation is underway and we are hopeful of hunting down the killers,” he said adding that CID is probing the matter.

“The relatives met me and demanded expediting the investigation to hunt down the culprits and find out who were the forces behind Kalburgi’s murder. Already we have taken up the case very seriously. In this regard, we have formed eight teams who are investigating the case,” he said.

Asked whether the relatives demanded handing over the case to CBI, Siddaramaiah said there was “more clamour” for CID probe than CBI and hence “we did not give it to the latter.”

Siddaramaiah also said the government will take stringent action against people who indulge in making instigating remarks and speeches.

Siddaramaiah also assured the family members of passing the anti-superstition bill in Karnataka assembly after examining the Maharashtra anti-superstition bill.

“The family members also demanded to immediately pass anti-superstition bill … we are examining the Maharashtra anti-superstition bill,” he said.

(PTI)

CID questions Swami Pranavananda in Kalburgi murder probe

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Swami Pranavananda

Bengaluru: With the ongoing probe of professor Kalburgi’s murder, the CID on Thursday September 10 questioned Hindu Mahasabha chief Swami Pranavananda and his driver.

Sources say that Swami Pranavananda and his driver were questioned at Ranebennur in Haveri. The swami had in the past issued a threat to Kalburgi and others who had insulted the Hindu religion.

This questioning however did not give any headway into the probe. The officials have informed their higher-ups that the angles probed so far including property disputes within the family, professional jealousy and possible action by violent pro-Kannada and pro-Hindutva groups had not brought out any results.

(Agencies)

Prof. K S Bhagwan receives anonymous threat letter

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K S Bhagwan

Mysuru: Rationalist Prof K S Bhagwan received an anonymous letter in English reportedly warning to kill him at his house on Wednesday. His wife said that the letter was delivered by the postman around 12.45 pm at Bhagwan’s house on Udayaravi road, Kuvempunagar. The letter was duly handed over to Kuvempunagar police station. The Police are reported to have been guarding the house round-the-clock.

The letter typed using a typewriter, addressed Bhagwan derogatorily and read as follows: “Don’t relax thinking you are safe. Haavina dvesha 12 years. 3 successful. Next you. Will never miss the target. No police security will save you when we come. We know how to do. Count your days”. (sic)

Sources said that the letter may have originated from Bengaluru, as per the seal on the order according to the report of investigators.

Earlier, soon after the Kannada scholar was shot dead by two unidentified men, a Bajrang Dal co-convener Bhuvith Shetty had posted a controversial tweet at 10:41 am on August 30 that said, “Then it was U R Anantamoorty and now it is M M Kalburgi. Mock Hinduism and die a dog’s death. And dear K. S Bhagwan you are next”, which had gone viral.

Soon after Bantwal police were informed about the controversial tweet, they registered a suo moto case at Bantwal police station.

Mysuru Police immediately provided Bhagwan with a personal security guard. Prof K S Bhagawan had reportedly received threats after his controversial speech on Bhagavad Gita at a recent event.

(Agencies)

MM Kalburgi murder: Rama Sene leader Prasad Attavar detained in Mangaluru

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Prasad Attavar

Mangaluru: Prasad Attavar, the chief of Rama Sene has been detained by central crime branch (CCB) police of Mangaluru in connection to the murder of Kannada scholar and researcher Prof M M Kalburgi.

It is said that Prasad has been detained for interrogation by CCB. Prasad has been handed over to Bunder police station and is being interrogated, sources said.

As per sources, some messages related to M M Kalburgi were circulated in the social media carrying Prasad Attavar’s photo. Police have been reportedly questioning him to ascertain whether the messages originated from him as his photograph was used.

In 2009, Prasad Attavar had been arrested in connection to the pub attack. At that time, he was in Pramod Muthalik’s Sri Rama Sene. He later broke away and formed his own Rama Sene.

It may be recalled that on August 31, the Bantwal police had arrested Bhuvith Shetty, said to be co-convenor of Bantwal Bajrang Dal unit, for posting a tweet ‘justifying’ Kalburgi’s murder and warning that Prof K S Bhagwan would be ‘next’. He was later released on bail.

Prof Kalburgi was shot dead at his residence in Dharwad on August 30. The police have released sketches of the suspects.

(Agencies)

Police release sketches of suspected Kalburgi killers

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Kalburgi killers

Bengaluru: Police released sketch of two suspected killers of Kannada writer M M Kalburgi on Wednesday.

The two unidentified of Kalburgi, who shot him dead on Sunday, had been seen by his wife.

They had knocked his door and asked for Kalburgi, calling him “Sir”, and tehn shot him dead.

Karnataka has decided to hand over the case to CBI, but CID has been investigating the case till the central agency is able to take over.

(Agencies)

Police protection to Bhagawan, Karnad after death threats

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K S Bhagwan

Mysuru: Prof K S Bhagawan has been provided with a personal security guard by the Mysuru police, after a Bajrang Dal activist threatened him on Twitter that he would be the next target after Dr M M Kalburgi, sources said. Prof K S Bhagawan had reportedly received threats after his controversial speech on Bhagavad Gita at a recent event.

Police posted guards at the houses of well-known writers Girish Karnad and Chandrashekhar Patil, a day after renowned Kannada scholar MM Kalburgi was shot dead in Dharwad.

On Dr Kalburgi’s murder, Prof. Bhagwan said, “It is an unfortunate and dangerous development. Dr Kalburgi was my very good friend. He liked my writings and encouraged me. He was a great soul and a great scholar and thinker. He worked for the downtrodden.”

Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh told sources that the police have also asked citizens to keep an eye out for anyone moving around suspiciously in the vicinity of the houses of writers and artists. The social media monitoring cell is keeping an eye on those who post threat messages and share irresponsible posts. “If we find any serious and inflammatory posts, we will take action”, he said.

(Agencies)

Kalburgi murder: Suo moto case registered against Bhuvith Shetty over threatening tweet

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Bhuvith Shetty

New Delhi: Mangalore rural police on Monday registered a suo moto case against Bhuvith Shetty under sections 506 and 153A of IPC over a threatening tweet.

After the news about author MM Kalburgi’s murder reached Twitter, Shetty tweeted, “Then it was UR Ananthamurthy and now MM Kalburgi. Mock Hinduism and die a dogs (sic.) death. And dear KS Bhagwan you are next.”

(ANI)

Karnataka government orders CID probe into M M Kalburgi’s assassination

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M M Kalburgi

Bengaluru: A CID probe was today announced by the Karnataka Chief Minister into the murder of progressive Kannada thinker and scholar M M Kalburgi at his residence at Dharwad in north Karnataka.

“We have decided to hand over the case to CID…. This incident should not have happened. It is highly condemnable,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told reporters here, a day after Kalaburgi was shot dead at point-blank range by two unidentified men.

77-year-old Kalburgi was an associate of rationalist Govind Pansare of Kolhapur in Maharashtra, who also fell victim in similar circumstances in February, and had drawn the ire of some right-wing Hindu outfits like VHP and Bajrang Dal with his remarks about idol worship by Hindus.

He had often spoken against superstitions and courted controversies with his outspoken stand.

At Dharwad this morning, hundreds of admirers of Kalburgi paid last respects to him. The funeral will take place later in the day today.

Yesterday, the attackers had knocked at the door of Kalburgi’s house claiming to be his students and as it was opened, they pumped bullets into his forehead and chest and fled. He died in a hospital.

“Whoever is behind this, we will catch them and punish according to law,” said the Chief Minister, who visited Dharwad to pay last respects to Kalburgi yesterday.

Asked if the sleuths have got any clues, Home Minister K J George said the probe was being started. “It will be investigated from all angles.”

The Hubli-Dharwad police had announced a special team to probe the murder that has shaken the Kannada literary world.

Kalburgi had raised the hackles of right-wing outfits when he made certain remarks about idol worship by Hindus that were considered “derogatory” and “blasphemous” and also led to protests by them.

A winner of central and state “Sahitya Akademi” awards, he had also suggested the need for a better state anthem.

Part of his works on “Vachana”(verses)” literature had also come under criticism of the state’s majority “veerashaiva” (Lingayat) community, a liberal Shaivism founded by 12th century philosopher, poet and social reformer Basaveshwara.

(Agencies)

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