‘Pro-Pak’ slogan: Chilli trader from Haveri district detained

A man from Haveri district in the state was detained on Thursday for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans inside the Karnataka Assembly, police sources said.

The detenu from Byadagi town in the district is learnt to be a major dry chilli trader who had come to Vidhana Soudha to celebrate the victory of Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain in the Rajya Sabha election.

Based on the voice sample, the police suspected that the chilli trader shouted pro-Pakistan slogans. He has been brought to Bengaluru for further investigation, they said.

The Vidhana Soudha police on Tuesday night registered a case on its own against the unknown persons who had allegedly raised the anti-national slogan. The BJP too lodged a police complaint.

On Thursday, the BJP MLAs led by the Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka took out the ‘Raj Bhavan Chalo’ march and sought the dismissal of the Congress government for the poor law and order situation in the state.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said he had ordered an inquiry into the case and if the investigation found that the Pakistan Zindabad slogan was shouted then stringent action will be taken.

Meanwhile, Haveri SP Anshukumar said that Vidhana Soudha police took custody of the suspect,  Mohammed Ahmed Nashipudi, on Wednesday night and took him to Bengaluru for voice examination. “There is no information about this person belonging to any other organization. The BJP leaders filed a written complaint at the Byadagi police station. In this background, Nashipudi has been taken for further questioning,” he said.

(With PTI inputs)