BENGALURU: Cow vigilantes were at it again after a BJP worker was lynched, and another injured in Udupi, Karnataka while transporting cattle. Praveen Poojary, 29, was beaten to death, and friend Akshay Devadiga sustained injuries in an attack by right-wing Hindu Jagaran Vedike members.
Udupi district Superintendent of Police, KT Balakrishna said, "We arrested 16 activists suspected to have assaulted victim Praveen Poojary and his friend Akshay Devadiga when they were transporting three cows in a van at Kajike near Hebri in the district last week." He added, "Though Poojary was rushed to a hospital nearby at Brahmavar, he succumbed to the injuries he sustained in the attack by the activists who suspected him of carrying the cows to a slaughterhouse."
A case of assault leading to murder and rioting under the IPC against the vigilantes has been registered by the district police. Balakrishna said, "Poojary was a petty shopkeeper at Kajike and Bharatiya Janata Party's local unit member. He and Akshay hired the van from one Ramesh Poojary to transport the cows to Hebri." Locals said the vigilantes had waylaid the two on suspicion they were from a minority community and selling cattle to abattoirs. "On receiving a tip-off that the duo was taking cows in a van during night, the accused stopped it and assaulted them."
