Two booked for inflammatory posts related to row over Udupi ‘Hore Kanike’ procession

The Udupi police registered two cases of alleged inflammatory posts related to a row over Yashpal Suvarna, Udupi MLA, asking the Udupi Zilla Muslim Souharda Paryaya Sam­iti to refrain from participating in the ‘Hore Kanike’ procession of the Udupi Shiroor Mutt’s Paryaya Festival on January 13 unless they have the approval of the Shiroor Paryaya Reception Committee.

The police arrested Sudhakar, 37, of Nitte Village of Karkala taluk in Udupi district, who is accused in one case. A special team has been formed to search for the accused in the other case.

A complaint was registered at the Karkala Rural Police Station regarding an alleged inflammatory post on the Facebook page of Sudeep Shetty Nitte on Saturday. In the post, it was mentioned that there was no need for the Souharda Samiti to hold the Duff event in the ‘Hore Kanike’ procession. Distributing ‘Sharbat’ and water bottles during the procession will not foster solidarity, it said. This will not increase the trust of Hindus in Muslims. Those authorised to speak have told the rest to the Samiti, the post further mentioned.

Holding this post as one that hurts religious sentiments and creates tension among communities, the Kundapur rural police registered a suo motu case for offence under Sections 196(1), 353(2) and 352 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). A special team has been formed to trace the accused, the police said.

The same post was also posted on the Facebook page of Sudhakar Appu Nitte on January 3. The police suo motu registered the case and arrested Sudhakar for offences under Sections 196(1), 353(2) and 352 of BNS. He was produced before the jurisdictional court on Tuesday, January 6, which remanded him to 15 days of judicial custody.

Clarification

In a statement regarding the procession, Udaykumar Saralathaya from the Diwan of Shiroor Mutt clarified to reporters in Mangaluru on January 5 that there are no restrictions preventing any community from taking part in the ‘Hore Kanike’ procession. The Shiroor Paryaya Reception Committee, led by Mr. Suvarna, has asked that the Souharda Samiti adhere to the traditions of the Krishna Mutt associated with the procession. Those participating in the procession should provide prior information about their participation to the Reception Committee, he said.