Mangaluru: Congress leader B. Ramanath Rai has urged law enforcement authorities to take suo moto action against leaders of certain communal organizations allegedly spreading false narratives to incite unrest.
Addressing a press conference, Rai expressed concern over what he described as a systematic attempt to disrupt communal harmony.
He argued that prosecuting lower-level activists was insufficient and called for cases to be registered against those in leadership positions, whom he accused of provoking such incidents.
"It was a clear attempt to foment communal clashes," he stated.
Referring to the recent case of missing youth Diganth, the former minister asserted that the situation could have escalated into a communal clash had the police not intervened in time.
He contended that while discussing the disappearance itself would have been a legitimate political approach, certain groups attempted to exploit the incident to inflame tensions.
"The timely action of the police in locating Diganth helped prevent a possible communal disturbance," Rai said, urging the public to remain vigilant against politically motivated narratives.
Drawing parallels with previous incidents, Rai accused right-wing groups of "distorting facts" for electoral gains.
He cited the 2017 murder of Sharath Madivala, alleging that misleading propaganda was used to influence public sentiment.
He also claimed that during the Tipu Jayanti celebrations, BJP workers were responsible for the killing of Harish Poojary—a case that, he said, was later framed differently in political discourse.
Rai criticized the prevailing political climate in Dakshina Kannada, asserting that certain politicians deliberately exploit cases of murder or disappearance to fuel communal divisions. He called for stringent legal action against those inciting violence and disturbing societal peace.
Missing Case of Diganth
It may be recalled that 17-year-old second-year PU student Diganth was missing for 11 days before being traced on Saturday. He was found in a mall in Udupi.
Initially, there were suspicions that he might have been kidnapped by drug addicts. His parents had filed a complaint with the police, demanding urgent efforts to locate him.
The incident triggered protests from Hindu organizations, which pressured the police to intensify their search. Protesters shut down shops and businesses in Farangipete and staged a demonstration on March 1, accusing the police of inaction. In response, the police formed seven teams to investigate the case. As Diganth remained untraced despite their efforts, his parents filed a habeas corpus petition in the High Court.
However, it was later reported that Diganth had recently become addicted to his mobile phone, leading to scoldings from his parents. Distressed, he left home in search of solace. He first traveled to Mangaluru by hitching a ride on a passing bike, then moved to Shivamogga, Mysuru, and Bengaluru. When he ran out of money, he returned to Mysuru and later traveled to Udupi by train.