Janardhan Poojary's 'encounter’ case: Police book one suspect

Mangaluru: The city police have registered a case against Hakeem Puttur for spreading provocative and abusive audio messages demanding ‘encounter’ of former Union Minister and Congress leader Janardhan Poojary and anyone else who demands construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Earlier on Thursday, former Mangaluru (South) MLA JR Lobo had filed a police complaint against the voice-message and had sought a detailed probe. Even Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had disapproved the audio clip.

The investigation which was taken up by Kavoor police, who zeroed on Hakeem Puttur and have booked cases under IPC 504 (intentionally trying to provoke breach of the peace) and IPC 507 (criminal intimidation).

The suspect meanwhile claims that he has no criminal intent and was only upset with the statements supporting Ram Mandir made by the 81-year old veteran Congress leader.

Hakeem has allegedly criticized Poojary in the audio file, after the latter spoke in favour of the construction of Ram Mandir. He demanded the leader and anyone who demands Ram Mandir need to be either ‘deported’ or ‘encountered’. He also gave a call for Muslims to not support Congress, until the veteran leader is suspended and also demanded an explanation on why Congress has retained the leader after he has destroyed the party.

Hakeem alleged that Poojary was in fact an RSS man and said,” “Poojary has association with the RSS and tries to hide his identity behind the Congress mask. I have been repeating this fact since 10 years but I was rebuked. However, things became clear after he invited Kalladka Prabhakar and RSS affiliates and not then (Karnataka) Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his book release,” he aggeged. He further blamed the veteran leader’s statements against Siddaramaiah to be the reason behind Congress loss during assembly elections in Dakshina Kannada.

Hakeem while apologising for his remark against Poojary, still asserts that the Union Minister should not have made remark favouring the construction of Ram Temple. “I have not said anywhere, I will kill Poojary. I have only said that anyone who violates Constitution, including Poojary must either be killed in an encounter or deported out of the country,” he said adding that Poojary can’t make statements on Ram Mandir when the matter is in court. Meanwhile, the authenticity of the voice has yet to be verified