Harsha was killed in Shivamogga in Karnataka on Sunday (February 20) night after writing a Facebook post opposing burqa in classrooms.
Twelve days after Congress leader Mukarram Khan's threat that those opposing burqa will be 'chopped to pieces', Islamists killed 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha in Shivamogga on Sunday (February 20) for writing a Facebook post opposing burqa in classrooms.
Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra visited the family of Harsha and assured them of swift justice.
"A group of 4-5 youth murdered him. I don't know of any organisation being behind this murder. Law & order situation under control in Shivamogga. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges in city limits have been closed for two days," ANI quoted the minister Monday (February 21) morning.
Expressing his shock over the murder, Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa said, "I'm very disturbed by the murder of a Bajrang Dal activist. He was killed by 'Musalmaan goondas' (Muslim goons). I'm going to Shivamogga now to analyse the situation. We'll not allow 'goondaism'."
Amid the burqa controversy in Karnataka, Congress leader Mukarram Khan said on February 8 that those opposing burqa would be 'chopped to pieces'. His video had gone viral on different social media platforms.
On February 17, the Karnataka police had booked Khan under sections 153 (A), 298 and 295 of the Indian Penal Code for his remarks.
Some Muslim girls in Karnataka's Udupi suddenly started demanding in the first week of February that they be allowed in classrooms in a burqa. The girls started protesting after the administration denied the permission. The protesting Muslim girls approached Karnataka High Court, requesting that the administration allow them in classrooms in a burqa.
The single-judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit had earlier referred the matter to a larger bench. The three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi is currently hearing the matter.
Senior Congress leader and Supreme Court lawyer Devdatt Kamat, who represents Muslim girls in the Karnataka High Court, is arguing that the burqa is integral and mandatory in Islam. The translation of the Quran he quoted in the courtroom to prove his point also talks about killing non-Muslims (kafirs).
