By IANS,
Bangalore : Pramod Muthalik, who earned notoriety when members of his right wing Hindu outfit bashed up women in a pub in Karnataka in January this year, has been arrested on charges of inciting communal clashes in Mysore early this month. The clashes killed three people.
“We have arrested him on charges of abetting throwing of a pig carcass near a religious school which led to July 2 clashes in which three people were killed,” Mysore Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal told IANS by phone.
The three victims — Zubaiullah, 15, Yasir, 35, and Tirupati, 40 — died of stab wounds following the clash in Udayagiri suburb of Mysore, 140 km from here.
The clashes erupted over the desecration of a madrassa in Kyathamaranahalli locality.
Muthalik was arrested in Belgaum in north Karnataka late Friday. “He has been brought to Mysore for interrogation,” Agarwal said.
Muthalik heads Sri Rama Sene (army of God Ram) and has been arrested several times earlier on charges of delivering inflammatory speeches.
Members of his outfit had thrashed several women in a pub in Karnataka’s coastal city of Mangalore in January claiming women going to pubs was against Hindu culture. Muthalik had also threatened to disrupt Valentine’s Day celebrations and marry off boys and girls displaying affection in public places.
He backed off in the face of nation-wide condemnation.