The Nagamangala communal riot case continues to unravel, with 52 individuals arrested so far in connection to the violence that shook the town. Fear of arrest has led several youths to flee their homes, leaving their families distraught. Among those affected is the family of Kiran, a 23-year-old youth from Badrikoppalu village, who tragically passed away on Saturday due to a brain stroke after leaving the village in fear of arrest.
Kiran had fled his home on the night of September 11, the day the riots erupted in Nagamangala, Mandya district. On September 20, he was admitted to NIMHANS Hospital in Bengaluru after suffering a brain stroke but tragically succumbed to the illness today. His death has further deepened the sorrow of his family, already facing immense hardship. Kiran’s father, Kumar, was arrested in connection with the riot and is currently imprisoned as the 17th accused. His grief-stricken family now prepares to bury their son after his body was shifted to Victoria Hospital for a postmortem.
The Nagamangala riot has left a deep scar on the village, with 13 people from Badrikoppalu village arrested. As of now, over 25 youths have fled the area in fear of being detained. Families left behind are facing not only emotional trauma but also financial strain. In a heartwarming show of solidarity, farmers from the nearby Kadabahalli village have stepped in to provide financial assistance to more than 20 families, offering a helping hand in these difficult times.
Amid the ongoing turmoil, Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik attempted to visit Hindus currently imprisoned in Mandya District Jail. However, his entry into the district was blocked by the police, who issued an order barring him from entering Mandya at the district’s border in Nidagatta. Frustrated by the government’s move, Muthalik expressed his anger, accusing the authorities of preventing him from supporting those impacted by the riots.
Meanwhile, political tensions around the incident continue to rise. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok, speaking at a BJP membership drive in Madikeri, criticised the Congress government, blaming its “administrative failure” for the riots in Nagamangala and other parts of the state. He criticised the Congress for its attempts to appease certain communities at the expense of public safety and harmony.
“The Congress government should be ashamed of blaming the opposition for the riots in Nagamangala and other places. In the last 16 months, they have done nothing for the state’s development. Salaries of government employees are unpaid, and the milk production board has debts exceeding 1,000 crores,” Ashok stated. He also aimed at the state government’s handling of the Ganesha festival, accusing them of “bringing trouble to a religious festival by appeasing Muslim communities.”
Ashok, who has served as an MLA for over 30 years, noted that opposition waves typically take years to build, but said that in just 15 months of Congress rule, a strong anti-Congress sentiment is growing across Karnataka. He pointed to several scandals, including the Muda land scam, the Valmiki Corporation controversy, and the recent suicides of government officials, as evidence of the Congress government’s mismanagement.
“The Congress government is bankrupt,” Ashok said, claiming the administration borrows from banks to stay afloat. He warned the Congress party that despite their efforts to suppress the opposition, the BJP is poised to win 160 seats if elections were held today. “There is a pro-BJP atmosphere in the state, and the Congress is afraid,” he added.
Ashok also addressed the legal actions taken against him and other BJP leaders, including Shobha Karandlaje and Basangouda Yatnal, for questioning the Congress government’s role in the riots. “They have filed cases against me, but as the Leader of the Opposition, I have the right to question the government. I will not bend to these cases. When Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency, we were the ones who fought back. We are not afraid.”
As tensions continue to simmer in Nagamangala and across Karnataka, the political landscape remains volatile, with the BJP rallying its support base and demanding answers from the Congress government. In the meantime, families like Kiran’s continue to suffer the devastating consequences of the violence and political unrest.
