MANGALURU: In a tearing hurry to malign the Congress government headed by CM Siddaramaiah, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje committed a major faux pas while sending a list of 23 Hindu activists, who were "killed" in last four years, to home minister Rajnath Singh.

The list contains the name of an activist Ashok Poojary, who is alive and kicking and also another name, which is not part of any political murder.

The letter, which was addressed to Union home minister to highlight murders of Hindu/RSS/BJP activists in the state, drew flak in social media as well - after names of living and unrelated persons cropped up in the list.

The list had two sections. In the first, the letter states 'Reign of blood bath and political murders in Karnataka under the Congress government headed by Chief Minister Shri Siddaramaiah. The List of Hindu/RSS Activists and BJP workers killed in the state during the last four years of Congress rule.' Under this list, there are names of 23 persons. In another section in the same letter 'The list of BJP/RSS workers assaulted during the last years'. It names six persons.

The Chikkamagaluru-Udupi constituency MP, who was criticised recently for crossing the line for her comments on personal lives of a Congress politician and also remark on communal violence in Dakshina Kannada, seems to have prepared an official letter without any cross-checking to target the state government.

The Congress leaders and activists blamed that the list reportedly left out some of the Sangh Parivar members who were murdered in coastal district. For example: BJP worker Praveen Poojary, was beaten up to death by VHP and Bajrang Dal activists after they found him transporting two cows in a vehicle.

Who is Ashok Poojary?

Ashok Poojary, aged about 25, is a resident of Idu village, Karkala Taluk, Udupi District. He along with another person, Vasu, had come to city to work as drum beaters for a Pili Vesha (Tiger dance troupe) last September. The duo had taken part in the Ganeshotsava function in Kulashekar. After the event, they had slept in a tent and were returning home next morning. On reaching Handelu around 8am, a group of four identified persons stopped them and attacked with sickles and machetes. Passerby motorists had taken them to private hospital. Ashok, who had received grievous injuries had recovered after spending nearly 45 days in the hospital.

"It is true that I was injured on September 20, 2016 but not dead. I have recovered completely after month-long medication," said Ashok, speaking to a local daily. He was not available for comments probably being gagged as a damage control measure by the party after Shobha's blunder. Moodbidri Police who had registered a case too confirmed TOI that Ashok is alive and doing well.

Suicide name too figures in list.

Vaman Poojary, second in the list had committed suicide and not murdered. The victim, 68,was one of the key witnesses in the murder of right-wing activist Prashanth Poojary, allegedly committed suicide by hanging in the house shed a few days after the incident. The victim was running a tender coconut shop in front of Prashanth's flower shop and his sickle was used in the crime.

Engineer Karthikraj was murdered by kin and her paramour.

Another name which figures is that of engineer Karthikraj. This murder is not all related to any political murder and Mangaluru City Police, who took nearly six month to crack the case, proved it was related to family issue.

Karthikraj, son of BJP leader Umesh Pajir, was assaulted by unidentified miscreants near Ganesh Mahal under Konaje police station limits, while he was jogging on October 22, 2016. Later, he succumbed to head injuries at a private hospital the next day.

Investigation revealed Kavyashree, victim's sister was working at Kanachur Hospital had hatched a plot to kill him with help of Gautam, who was her colleague. Kavyashree was married three years ago to a person who was working abroad. She had developed friendship with Gautam, which was disapproved by Karthikraj. Kavyashree had learnt that Gautam required financial help as he fell short of money to complete his under-construction house. Using this as abait she mentioned about her bitter relationship with Karthikraj and asked Gautham to murder him and promised Rs 5 lakh in return. Gautam carried out the attack along with his college-going brother Gaurav. Investigation was delayed as there was too much confusion.

Earlier it was believed that murder is part had communal intent to it and several right wing chauvinists held protests across the district with BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel leading it. In fact, Kateel went to the extent of saying that he would set DK on fire if the culprits were not found.

Interestingly, the Karthikraj's sister too was a prominent figure in the protests seeking justice for Karthikraj.