Mangaluru/Bengaluru, 2 Sept

Two separate cases have been booked in Belthangady against activists Girish Mattannanavar and Mahesh Shetty Thimarody on charges of creating and circulating videos on social media that allegedly disturbed communal harmony and offended public sentiments, police said on Tuesday.

Both the complaints allege that the activists have been fuelling what both the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP/JD(S) have called a “conspiracy” aimed at maligning the temple town.

The first complaint, filed on 30 August by Praveen KR of Dharmasthala, alleged that activist Mattannanavar, in association with Thimarody and others, had for several days brought bloggers in Belthangady and circulated what were described as false and provocative videos on social media platforms.

In a second complaint, filed on 1 September by Rajendra Das D of Dharmasthala, it was alleged that Mattannanavar had spoken in an obscene and offensive manner in a video clip.

Police said the complaint claimed the video had annoyed the public.

Meanwhile, Minister Priyank Kharge alleged that both the activists were associated with the RSS and BJP.

“Against whom did they (BJP) speak inside the Karnataka Assembly? Wasn’t that Thimarody? This person is from RSS. The RSS is BJP’s Guru. These people grew up in RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal,” Kharge said.

Regarding Mattennavar, the Minister said, “He is Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (district) president. He was the BJP’s official candidate from Gurmitkal assembly segment in Yadgir district. He was issued BJP B-Form. Today, they (Thimarody and Mattennavar) are speaking against them (Dharmasthala). So whose conspiracy is this?”

 Villagers write to SIT, offer to show burial sites

A group of local villagers has written a letter to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), stating they are prepared to show the burial sites of the alleged victims.

The letter, submitted on behalf of the villagers by Dharmasthala resident Tukaram Gowda, expresses growing concern over the seriousness of the case.

“We are living in fear,” the letter states, “but we believe in the impartial and transparent investigation promised by the SIT.”

The villagers claim to have identified a man seen in media reports, alleging that he was involved in transporting and burying bodies across various locations. Though these activities were carried out in secrecy, the letter says that such incidents often become open secrets in rural communities.