Karnataka: Protest planned to condemn ‘govt discrimination’

MANGALURU: Muslim Aikyata Vedike, Suratkal, in association with like-minded organisations and members of mohallas, will stage a huge protest at Surathkal Junction on September 9, condemning the discriminatory policy of the state government in the disbursal of compensation for the families of Fazil and Masood who were hacked to death in the district recently.
Vedike-president Mohammed Ashraf Badriya on Tuesday flayed the attitude of the government and payment of compensation only to the family of Praveen Nettaru, who was hacked to death in Bellare. He urged the government to pay compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to the families of Masood and Mahammed Fazil, who too were murdered by the assailants.
Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, home minister Araga Jnanendra had made false promises of visiting the house of Masood and Fazil. Neither the ministers nor the local MLA visited the house of the victims and consoled the family members, he told reporters.
He said the police should book the assailants of Masood and Fazil under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act just like the way the assailants of Nettaru were booked by the Dakshina Kannada district police. Both cases should be handed over to the NIA for investigation.
“If the district administration permits, then we would like to meet PM Narendra Modi during his visit to Mangaluru and September 2 and submit a memorandum on the discriminatory policy followed by the state government,” he said.
Fazil’s father Farooq said police have arrested the accused based on CCTV footage. “The culprits who supplied lethal weapons and gave financial support to the accused have not been arrested so far. We have faith in police,” he said.