Mangaluru : Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has demanded that the government should hand over ex gratia to the kin of Masood B, who was murdered in Kalanja village in Bellare of Sullia taluk on July 21 and Mahammed Fazil of Mangalapete in Katipalla, who was hacked to death on Thursday night.

SDPI state committee member Ataulla Jokatte said that chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who visited the house of Praveen Nettaru on Thursday, should visit the houses of Masood and Fazil too.

“The chief minister and ministers should visit their houses and console their families. The CM also should sanction Rs 25 lakh to each of the kin of Masood and Fazil too,” Jokatte said. The CM had handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Praveen on Thursday. Jokatte said that the CM should also ensure a government job, for a family member of Masood and Fazil.

He alleged that the provocative statements of BJP leaders in the recent past have led to the murder of Masood and Fazil. “The chief minister had visited the house of Praveen as part of a damage control measure of the BJP. The CM wanted to pacify angry party workers, and his visit was not to bring the law and order situation under control. The government has failed utterly in maintaining peace in Dakshina Kannada district,” he added.