Bantwal : Following a recent statement by VHP’s South Karnataka Joint Secretary Sharan Pumpwell during a public Ganesha festival function in Mangaluru that VHP activists can block procession of Muslims, a voice message reportedly by a former Bantwal Town Municipal Council president Mohammed Sharief challenging the activists to block the EId procession on B.C. Road went viral on social media. The Bantwal Town Police filed a case against Sharief in this connection.

In response, activists of VHP and its affiliated units including Bajarang Dal, including Mr. Pumpwell, from across Dakshina Kannada, assembled in large numbers at Rakteshwari Daivastana on B.C. Road. Meanwhile, devout Muslims took out the Id procession from B.C. Road Junction to Mittabail Masjid.

When Mr. Pumpwell and other activists began to march from the daivasthana towards B.C. Road junction, the police prevented them by placing barricades. Meanwhile, the EId procession ended at the masjid around noon. As police started to disperse VHP activists, the situation flared up when VHP activists saw some youths moving on two-wheelers and flashing some flags. The police convinced VHP activists to leave the place and brought the situation under control.

Earlier, on Sunday, Y. Bharath Shetty, Mangaluru City North MLA, expressed apprehension over the misuse of EId procession for creating unrest and had asked police to ban EId processions.

Criticising the conduct of Dr. Shetty, DYFI State president Muneer Katipalla said in a statement on Monday that instead of acting as an MLA and ensuring peaceful conduct of the EId procession, Dr. Shetty turned out as the hater of a community. Dr. Shetty has done little development work, but takes every opportunity to spread hatred between communities and reap political benefit out of it, Mr. Katipalla alleged.

Ignoring the campaign against EId procession, people in some other parts near Mangaluru distributed sweets and juice to devout Muslims who took part in the EId procession in places like Mani and Anantady. “The elected representatives should learn from these villagers. These villagers have given a befitting reply to (Mangaluru City) MLAs and VHP activists,” Mr. Katipalla said.