Mangaluru : Vishwa Hindu Parishad regional organising secretary Gopal said there can be peace in the region if the police arrest persons involved in the murder of RSS activist Sharath Madiwala at the earliest.

Addressing a press meet at VHP office here on Friday he said that, SDPI leaders were behind the murder of RSS activist Sharath Madivala, and said that if SDPI leaders were arrested, then the real culprits would automatically surrender.

The ruling state government is favouring SDPI and pro-Muslim communal forces, that is why even after the communal disturbances, they are roaming free. If the police take information from SDPI leaders, the whole muder plan will automatically come out, he said.

He also wanted the State government to take back the case registered against five right-wing activists for their alleged involvement in the disturbance at B.C. Road on July 8. Talking to reporters here on Friday, Mr. Gopal alleged that though the police knew of the persons involved in the murder of Sharath, they were being prevented from making arrests.

The police were being pressurised to act only against one section of the community, he alleged.

Mr. Gopal also alleged that the police were harassing the family of BJP Backward Classes Morcha State president Satyajit Surathkal, Bajrang Dal State convener Sharan Pumpwell, BJP district Yuva Morcha president Harish Poonja and president of Hindu Hitarakshana Samiti Muralikrishna Hasantadka by visiting their houses every day.

Mr. Gopal said if the police do not stop harassing the family from Friday, then they will launch a violent protest.