Shivamogga, 1 April

The grave of Sanketh, a boy who was recently murdered, has been vandalised by miscreants.

His family members, who used to offer prayers at the grave every Wednesday, were shocked to find it destroyed and have filed a complaint at the Tunganagar police station.

Sanketh was killed on 23 February by boys from another community. The murder sparked communal tensions in the region.

He had been laid to rest near the Guddemaradi temple at Uragadur.

His parents had built a small grave and placed his photograph on it. However, miscreants have broken the granite slab.

“My son was not spared even after death; they have destroyed his grave. If they have hatred toward us, they should do something to us instead,” said Kumar, the boy’s father.

Sanketh’s grandfather said the family found out about the incident on Tuesday evening and alleged that illegal activities such as drug use are taking place in the area.