Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned any sympathy for Pakistan as treason. His comments came in response to the recent case of mob lynching in Mangaluru, Karnataka, which has sparked outrage across the country.
Addressing the media in Bengaluru on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah asserted that the culprits behind the mob lynching would not go scotfree.
"The inquiry is underway, and 15 are already arrested. The investigation will proceed, and action will be taken as and when required," he claimed. He went on further, "To speak for Pakistan is absolutely wrong. It is treason. Do you understand?" emphasizing the seriousness of the offense.
Home Minister G. Parameshwara also promised that 20 individuals had been arrested in connection with the lynching.
The Karnataka Police are assigning top priority to the case, considering the sensitive communal environment of Mangaluru. Victim Mohammad Ashraf is reported to be a 35 to 40-year-old from Kerala's Ullapalli village. A group of over 30 attacked him to death, it is reported. Ashraf reportedly cried out the slogan "Pakistan Zindabad" on a cricket ground, leading to the violent attack.
Ashraf's relatives, who had come to Mangaluru to collect the body, claim that he was mentally challenged, adding complexity to the case.
Local Muslim organizations have urged the authorities to register cases against persons who were allegedly delivering provocative speeches that had allegedly culminated in the incident. They also expressed concern about the rising incidents of moral policing by Hindu activists in the area, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Police authorities confirmed that the lynching occurred after Ashraf allegedly chanted the provocative slogan, and the subsequent mob assault was led by individuals who were playing cricket at the site. The police arrested 20 suspects and are investigating over 30 others who participated in the crime.
This case has also seen the application of Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, which is concerned with mob lynching and imposes severe penalties such as life imprisonment or death. Those arrested are auto driver Sachin, along with others such as Devadas, Saideep, and Manjunath. The police are also questioning the husband of a former corporator involved in the case.
Authorities are proceeding with their inquiry, with firm indications of speedy and stern legal recourse against everyone responsible for the ghastly occurrence.
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