Mangaluru : Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik, who was trying to enter Dakshina Kannada district to visit the house of slain BJP worker Praveen Nettaru, was taken into custody by the Mangaluru City Police near Hejmadi check post on Friday. Later, he was sent back to Udupi.

Dakshina Kannada district administration had banned the entry of Muthalik in Bantwal, Belthangady, Puttur, Kadaba and Sullia taluks in the district police limits as per the Section 144(3) of the CrPC on Thursday and the order will be in force till further orders. Similarly, Mangaluru City Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar also had issued an order banning Muthalik from entering the city police commissionerate limits till August 3.

District administration and the city police had information that Muthalik was likely to visit slain BJP worker’s house in Bellare on Friday and he may deliver provocative speeches leading to communal tension.

While Muthalik arrived in Udupi and was heading to meet Praveen Nettaru’s family in Bellare, Mangaluru City Police detained him at Hejmadi. “We have received information that Muthalik is on his way to Bellare. Hence, we worked in coordination with the Udupi police and stopped his entry into the city. After detaining Muthalik at Hejamadi for violating prohibitory order, he was sent back,” said commissioner N Shashi Kumar.