Karnataka Police hands over Bajrang Dal activist Harsha murder case to NIA
It should be reminded that 26-year-old Harsha was brutally hacked to death near Kamat Petrol Pump on NT Road in Shivamogga, Karnataka on February 20 over a Facebook post in connection to the hijab controversy.
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In a major development, the Karnataka government has handed over the investigation into the Bajrang Dal activist Harsha murder case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
According to media reports citing police sources, the NIA filed a formal complaint in the case of the murder of the Bajrang Dal worker in a New Delhi court on Wednesday after being assigned the probe. The NIA is expected to seek custody of the arrested suspects to carry out investigations in Shivamogga.
It should be reminded that 26-year-old Harsha was brutally hacked to death near Kamat Petrol Pump on NT Road in Shivamogga, Karnataka on February 20 over a Facebook post in connection to the hijab controversy. Harsha was a member of the Hindu organisation Bajrang Dal, and he was seen wearing saffron shawls to demand uniformity in school and college dress codes.
The Karnataka police had pressed charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against 10 people arrested in connection with the murder. UAPA has invoked against the accused namely, Mahammad Qasif (Kasif), Syed Nadeem, Rihan Sharief, Asif Ullah Khan, Abdul Afnan, Nihan, Faraz Pasha, Abdul Khadar Jilan, Abdul Roshan and Jafar Sadiq.
Under the UAPA, police gain custody of a suspect for 30 days and have 180 days instead of 90 days to file a charge sheet. The law’s stipulations also make it difficult for an accused person to obtain bail.