In the Shivamogaa district in Karnataka, a 26-year-old Hindu activist and member of Bajrang Dal named Harsha was hacked to death near Kamat petrol bunk on Sunday (February 20).
As per reports, the victim Harsha was a tailor by occupation and was a native of Seegehatti in the Shivamogaa district. He was a member of Bajrang Dal and was a vocal supporter of uniformity in dress code in the recent controversy over hijab. He was in his view and had participated against the wearing of hijab by wearing saffron shawls.
Eyewitnesses claim that around 40 men armed with knives came in bikes and attacked him.
After the attack took place, the Harsha was rushed to the Mc Gann district hospital, where he succumbed to his stab injuries. However, thousands of people paid their respect and gathered to accompany the body of Harsha while it is being taken to his residence.
Karnataka | Body of the 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha, who was allegedly murdered yesterday in Shivamogga, being taken to his residence amid Police security after postmortem.
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2022
Large numbers of workers of Hindu organisations join in. pic.twitter.com/6jllIkEZ0q
As of now the identity of the attackers remains unknown and as the situation in Shivamogga has become tense and a probe has been ordered and a preliminary investigation has revealed Harsha had received threats prior to his brutal killing.
A picture of a badly wounded Harsha is now gone viral on the internet and that has led to large-scale protests in Shivamogaa.
Several vehicles were set on fire in Seegehatti, and district administration imposed Section 144 in the area along with a contingent of police has been deployed to prevent any law and order situation.
All schools and colleges have been ordered to remain closed on Monday in light of this allegedly targeted killing of a Hindu.
According to OpIndia, it was the Muslim community in the area who killed Harsha and said that the killers came in a car and attacked Harsha with sharp weapons.
It is pertinent to note that a Fatwa had been issued against 23-year old Harsha in a Facebook group called ‘Mangalore Muslims’.
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