Is the 'lynching' politically motivated?

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Seems that it has become a trend for 'well-connected' criminals to flee from the law and later share a video denying involvement in the crime. Accused of killing a cattle trader in Sathanur police station limits on April 1, notorious criminal and self styled 'cow vigilante' Puneeth Kerehalli shared a 15-minute video from an unknown location on Monday, denying any involvement in the matter.

In the video, the absconding murder accused can be seen dumping the blame on opposition leaders including Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and HD Kumaraswamy for the murder of the trader, Idrees Pasha. Kerehalli claimed that he had been visiting various temples and his mobile phone was switched off all this time.

"I was not aware of the murder until I switched on my mobile phone. I got to know an FIR has been registered against me for the crime I did not commit," he claimed. Further he went on blaming opposition leaders saying it is all a conspiracy to procure Muslim votes. "I will willingly come to the police and cooperate with the investigations. I will continue to protect the cow and no one can deter me from doing this," he added.

Screaming at the top of his voice, he alleged that he was there with the police that night and said that if he was guilty, why did he go to the police to file an FIR against Idrees Pasha and his friends. However it is worth noting that throughout his speech, Kerehalli did not mention that he would surrender to the police.

Why can't he be tracked by the police, ask angry activists

While senior police officials from the state said that the self-styled Hindutva fringe elements have already been flagged by them as "security concern," city residents, netizens and activists have been criticising the police inaction in arresting the absconding accused despite having a long list of criminal cases filed against him.

Citizen activist and Advocate of Alternative Law Forum, Vinay Sreenivas, said that this is not the first time that Kerehalli has been accused in a criminal case. "When the deceased person had necessary permits with him, who is Kerehalli to take the law into his hands? He stopped Idrees and demanded Rs 2 lakh from him to set him and his animals free," he said.

A few activisits, who didn't want to be named, claimed thar it's a political movited murder in order to help the ruling party and let people talk about us vs them rather than real issues. It has been reported previously that Kerehalli and his team of miscreants use electric stun guns to scare their victims. Sources close to the family of the deceased said that there were burn injuries on Idrees's body.

"Why and how do the police even allow such people to operate boldly? Kerehalli has a Facebook account where he keeps sharing videos of his deeds. Why can't he be tracked by the police?" asked Sreenivas. The activist lamented that fringe elements who were involved in hate speeches against the minorities earlier, have now started killing them.

"Is this what the Bommai government has gotten us into?" he added. Advocate and AILAJ Co-Convener, Maitreyi Krishnan, said, "The DGP is to be held responsible for the lack of swift action in this case. We have already seen the photos of the murder accused Kerehalli posing with several top BJP leaders. Is this how the party protects our nation? It is high time the people wake up," she said.

Another advocate, Krishnan D Rosario, said that miscreants such as Kerehalli, who were members of saffron outfits, have made progress to such an extent that today that they can lynch, attack and abuse anyone without fearing the law. "The BJP leaders had told the people not to talk about failing infrastructure, but instead speak about communalism. I suspect the murder is not accidental but wellplanned," he alleged.