Killing of ‘Hindus’: Shobha Karandlaje’s ‘murderous’ lies exposed

coastaldigest.com news network
July 19, 2017

A list of “Hindu victims” prepared by firebrand BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje has triggered a controversy as she has deliberately avoided the names of several innocent Hindus murdered by saffron extremists and granted ‘martyrdom’ to a poor man, who is (fortunately) still alive.

shobha karandlaje

In the wake of the murder of RSS activist Sharath Madivala in Bantwal taluk earlier this month, the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP had written to union home minister Rajnath Singh on July 8 demanding NIA probe into the murders of Hindus and Hindutva activists occurred in Karnataka.

Karandlaje had also enclosed a list of 23 “Hindus” murdered in this south Indian state in the last four years of Congress rule with her ‘communally sensational and politically significant’ letter which held “jihadist elements” responsible for all these murders.

Madam, he is still alive; kindly don’t kill him now!

The list of “murdered” Hindus begins with the name of Ashok Poojary, who according to Karandlaje, was killed in Moodbidri on September 20, 2015. However, Ashok is still alive and healthy. “What? Who murdered me? I am still alive!” responded 33-year-old Ashok when coastaldigest.com contacted him and brought Karandlaje’s bizarre claim to his notice.

ashokpoojary

Ashok Poojary and his friend Vasu Acharya, both residents of Eedu village in Karkala were attacked at Handelu near Moodbidri. The police have nabbed a few suspects in the case and slapped attempt-to-murder charge against them.

“I was working as a drummer with a local music troupe. On that fateful day we two were returning home on a motorbike after playing drums at a Chauthi programme in Kulashekhar near Mangaluru. I was riding pillion. I suffered severe head injuries when a group of six miscreants waylaid and attacked us. I was in hospital for over a month. But, now I am fine,” explained Ashok.

Suicide treated as murder

Vaman Poojary (65), who had committed suicide near his daughter’s house in Moodbidri on October 15, 2015, has also found a place in the list of murdered Hindus.

According to Karandjale, Vaman was murdered on September 20, 2015. However, he was alive for four more weeks (until committing suicide)! According to police, who had considered Vaman to be a witness in Prashant Poojary murder case, the former was not attacked by anyone.

They murdered him and put the blame on PFI

As per Karandlaje’s letter Venkatesh, a Hindu activist, was murdered on February 19, 2015 in Shivamogga. According to local police, one Manjunath was murdered on February 20, 2015 in Shivamogga. The BJP and its allies had staged protests across Shivamogga condemning the killing of Manjunath and held PFI activists responsible for the crime.

However, during investigation the police came to know that the killers – identified as Arunakumar (25), Arun (24), Dakshayinamma (40), Netravati (28) and Shwetha (20), and Sachin (23) – were relatives of the victim and had close ties with saffron groups.

Murder of Karthik Raj and shamelessness of BJP

Karandlaje has shown no hesitation to include the name of Karthik Raj in her list. An engineering graduate, Karthik Raj was murdered during his jogging routine on October 22, 2016 under the limits of Konaje police station in Mangaluru taluk.

The saffron outfits had seized this opportunity to stage a series of protest against the Karnataka government. BJP leaders including former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha and Karandlaje had blamed so called ‘jihadist elements’ for this murder. Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had gone on to the extent of setting entire district on fire if the police failed to catch the ‘terrorists from Kerala’, who according him had murdered Karthik Raj.

However, the arrest of the real culprits in April this year, was a tight slap in the face of BJP. The killers were the sister of the victim, her boyfriend and his younger brother. Ironically, all of them were Hindutva activists.

Drink and drive… and become a ‘martyr’!

Ravi Magali, a local leader of BJP Yuva Morcha was killed in a road mishap in Mysuru on November 4, 2016 while he was returning from a bar in an inebriated state. The list includes his name too.

Even though RSS had portrayed him as a martyr and held the so called ‘jihadists’ responsible for his death, the police had made it clear that Ravi had died due to drunken driving and not hacking as claimed by the RSS. The post-mortem report had vindicated the police version.

Murder over land row

Police have already arrested five persons in connection with the murder of BJP activist and former Hubballi Zilla Panchayat member Yogish Goudar. The accused are Basavaraja Shivappa Muttagi, Vinayak Basavaraj Kadagi, Vikram Udaykumar, Sandeep alias Sandy Somashekhar and Keerti Kumar Basavaraja Kurahatti.

The accused had also confessed that they hatched conspiracy to murder Yogish due to some land issues. However, the BJP leader has portrayed Yogish as a victim of “jihad”.

Victims of rivalry dragged into the list

The list also includes Ahswath (Attibele), C N Shrinivas (Bengaluru), Chikkathimmegowda (Bengaluru), Srinivas Prasad aka Vasu (Bommanahalli), Harish (Anekal), Mahadeva Kale (Kalaburgi), Rowdy-sheeter Ramesh Bandi (Ballari), Rajesh Kotyan (Ullal) among others. According to police sources, they were killed in separate cases of rivalry, property row and other issues. No Muslim groups had involved in these cases. However, in her letter, Karandlaje strongly suspected the involvement of activists of PFI, and KFD (which doesn’t even exist) in these murders.

Shocking forgetfulness!

Ironically, many Hindus who were brutally murdered by saffron extremists in last couple of years have found no place in Karandlaje’s list. On behalf of Kannadigas, coastaligest.com urges Karandjale to add the names following innocent “Hindus” to the list.

M M Kalburgi, veteran Kannada writer and former vice-chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi — who was known for his strong stand against superstitious practices and right-wing groups, was shot dead on August 30, 2015 at his house in Dharwad. He had received several life threats from saffron extremists.

Vinayak Baliga, a Mangaluru based RTI activist, who had exposed the alleged financial irregularities of a temple management, was brutally hacked to death on March 21, 2016 near his house. The main accused in this murder case is Naresh Shenoy aka NaMo Naresh, the undisputed leader of NaMo Brigade aka Yuva Brigade. The other accused in the case also saffron activists.

Harish Poojary, a 28-year-old youth was brutally hacked to death by a gang of miscreants on November 12, 2015 in Bantwal taluk without any provocation. The very next day Sangh Parivar imposed a violent bandh in entire Dakshina Kannada district holding Muslims of the region responsible for the murder. However, the police managed to catch the real culprits within a week. The main accused was Bhuvith Shetty, a leader of Bajrang Dal, whose only intention was to create a communal riot in the region and kill a few Muslims. His partners in the crime were also saffron activists.

Praveen Poojary, a 29-year-old BJP worker was beaten to death by a group of miscreants belonging to Hindu Jagarana Vedike at Karjike in Udupi district while he was illegally transporting cows on August 17, 2016. He had campaigned for Karandlaje in last Lok Sabha polls.

Also Read: 

PFI turned DK into ‘jihadi laboratory’: Shobha writes to Union Home Minister

Moodbidri: Key eyewitness in Bajrang Dal activist Prashant murder found dead

Karthik Raj murder: Victim’s sister, her boyfriend, his younger brother arrested

BJP MP Nalin Kumar Kateel threatens to set Dakshina Kannada district ablaze

Shivamogga shocker: They murdered Manjunath and put the blame on PFI

NaMo Naresh not yet arrested; we will catch him soon: Mangaluru police chief

Bajrang Dal rowdy Bhuvith Shetty among two held for murder of Harish Poojary

Comments

Muzaffar
 - 
Wednesday, 9 Aug 2017

Good Job CD

very good analysis and informative message to the public to decide who is really making newsense in the DK.

i admire

abdul
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Mr.yeddy you are the ambassador of corruption , you made a record in corruption , you dont have moral right to talk about corruption, Siddramayya karnataka\s proud bcoz he is a corrupless politician."

indian
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

sadhwiji
i will appreciate you if you hang your FRIENDS who export beef to other countries otherwise your words are like barking

SYED
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

We Muslims should follow the Sunnah and the Quraan and not the society.. and saudi arabia is the land of tawheed which is oneness of ALLAH and there is no place for any unislamic culture. If she is against the sunnah, them maximum punishment should be given to her.
May ALLAH protect us from all kind of trials,,,

ALLAH KNOWS THE BEST.

Sunny
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Shameless .......thuuu.....

Ahmed
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

When I closely go through the list I caught a blunder from SHOBA stating date as 08.11.2017 which means this person is scheduled to be killed. HAHAHA....

Ninna hanebaara poorakaleg gottand... barpi salaa election contest malthda nikk chappal da haara gurantee

Navaz Sheikh
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

You can try to dirty my name,

but i will wear your hate like war paint

- Madalyn Beck

Fairman
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

This woman is a disgrace to Indian culture.

she should behave in a decent way if she wants people to accept her as a role model. but definitely not at all God woman.

Very unfortunate many of our Hindu brothern are blind and deaf to allow such evil people who really exploit the people into adverse direction.

God save us.

Ahmed K. C.
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Straight to NIA without recommendation from SANGHIs

Althaf
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Feel sad for this waste MP. It is the mistake of karnataka who voted this lady and helped her to become MP of india. This is nothing but Irony of india.

KALANDAR
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

shame shame. true face of saffronists. shobakak is a big liar.

Viren Kotian
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

This CD these days has become a mouthpiece of KFD. I think CD editor is running a conversion and trafficking racket with the help of jihadists. Shobhaji, you just ignore the threat of jihadists and go ahead.

Naaz
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Thank god he died yesterday... or else his name would have been in the MP list... or else may be they can revise it too...

Kareem CP
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Masha Allah,
People want peace
Great scholar, great leader, great mission
Barakkallah

Hanni
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Shetty ,bhat and hegde community all in education failed and studying well and getting rank but poojary and backwards only in sanga parivar rowdy sheeter filed

Safeeq
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Honestly
SHOBHA Karandlaje is one of RSS Durga vahini member she must lie she must expose the extremism, she must involve
Otherwise she will be kicked out from the RSS RED and BJP as well.

This is what true.

MBS
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

A national secular party lost his sharpness no cadres no influence in rural area lazy leaders looking for easy voters after getting in to power not looking back to the people's real issues MLA's and MP's are like dead donkeys, at least someone from saffron parties raising voice hope in future some more from the same party will follow him, actually these sanghi terrorists are a big threat to nations inner security and should be eradicated completely.

MBS
 - 
Wednesday, 19 Jul 2017

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raajioon
Fake religions fake babas their followers in politics all fakes who worried are fighting against a excellent daayi, these non believers with the help of munafiqs may get a timely and temporary success here but real success will be for him here and hereafter which is the real success.
These cowards have no guts to debate with him.
May Allah be with you Dr. Zakir Naik

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News Network
April 29,2025

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Newcastle (Washington) / Mysuru: In a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked both the tech world and local communities in India and the U.S., a Mysuru-based entrepreneur allegedly shot and killed his wife and one of their sons before turning the gun on himself at their residence in Newcastle, Washington. 

The couple’s younger son, aged seven, survived, having stepped out of the house shortly before the tragedy unfolded.

The accused, Harsha Kikkeri (57)—also known as Harshavardhan—was the founder and CEO of HoloWorld, a Mysuru-based robotics company. His wife Shwetha and one of their sons were found dead at the scene along with Harsha, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO). Authorities responded to a 911 call at a townhouse in the 7000 block of 129th Street on Thursday night (U.S. time). Upon arrival, deputies found three bodies and confirmed that the scene posed no further threat to public safety.

While investigators are treating it as a murder-suicide, the exact motive remains unknown. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release the names or ages of the deceased children. The case remains under active investigation.

A Life of Innovation and Ambition

Hailing from Kikkeri village in Karnataka’s Mandya district, Harsha was an engineering graduate from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE), Mysuru. He went on to work with Microsoft in the United States, where he was involved in cutting-edge robotics development.

In 2017, Harsha and Shwetha returned to India and co-founded HoloWorld, a robotics startup that soon made headlines for its product HoloSuit—a bi-directional, wireless full-body motion capture suit. Touted as the world’s first of its kind at an affordable price, the suit was designed for applications across healthcare, sports, education, and skill development.

HoloWorld's products were exported to multiple countries, including the US, UK, and Israel. Indian cricket star Yuvraj Singh served as the brand ambassador. Harsha even met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss deploying robotic soldiers along India's borders. As a respected member of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) network, he frequently spoke at tech and innovation forums.

Despite his professional achievements, the recent tragedy has left many in the tech and entrepreneurial communities grappling for answers.

Community in Mourning

Neighbours in the Newcastle suburb described the family as kind, quiet, and largely private.

“We would exchange greetings. I often saw the mother walking her children to school—she was very warm,” said Alex Gumina, President of the local Homeowners Association.

Another neighbour recalled, “She was always smiling, and her younger son was especially affectionate. We’re devastated—this is unimaginable.”

Residents are planning a community gathering over the weekend to honor the family and support the surviving child.

Business Winds Down After Pandemic

HoloWorld’s corporate headquarters in India was located in Vijayanagar Third Stage, Mysuru, specifically housing its division HoloEducation. The company operated actively from 2018 until it scaled down in 2022 amid the pandemic. The premises have since remained vacant.

“I haven’t been in touch with them in years,” said the building owner. “They shut down during COVID, and I only heard about the tragedy yesterday.”

The incident has sent shockwaves through Mysuru’s business circles. Bhaskar Kalale, Chairman of EqualizeRCM India and President of TiE Mysuru Chapter, expressed deep condolences, calling the event “heartbreaking beyond words.”

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News Network
April 28,2025

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Mangaluru: Following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam,  many Mangaluru residents are cancelling their planned trips to Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which resulted in several fatalities, has raised concerns about safety among travelers, leading them to reconsider their vacation plans.

Surge in Cancellations 

Travel operators in Mangaluru have reported a significant increase in requests to cancel Jammu and Kashmir holiday bookings. Tourists who initially planned to visit the region are now looking for alternative destinations, including popular hill stations in Himachal Pradesh like Shimla and Kullu-Manali, as well as other scenic locations across India.

Concerns from Tour Operators

Eulalia D'Souza, the owner of Lia Travels and Tours, noted the growing unease among tourists, despite reassurances that Jammu and Kashmir remains a safe destination. She revealed that her agency has already processed four cancellations, and another booking scheduled for May 12 has also been canceled. D'Souza expressed concern about the financial strain on travel operators, who are facing challenges such as refunding bookings while also dealing with high cancellation charges for airline tickets.

Travel Costs Surge as Destinations Change

With an increasing number of people opting for alternative destinations like Shimla, Kullu-Manali, and Sikkim, travel costs to these locations have spiked. Eulalia D'Souza mentioned that room rates in Himachal Pradesh, which would normally cost Rs 6,500 per night, have risen to over Rs 10,000 due to increased demand. Similarly, airfare to these regions has also seen a significant increase in price.

William D'Souza, the Managing Director of Globe Travels, shared that his agency had 32 bookings for Jammu and Kashmir tours, all of which have now been canceled. He confirmed that Globe Travels was able to secure full refunds from airlines, hotels, and other service providers. However, he noted that some travelers are adopting a “wait-and-see” approach, monitoring the situation before making further decisions.

Vikram Travels and Resorts India Pvt Ltd, based in Mangaluru, reported nearly 250 cancellations, with the majority of them coming from families. Subrahmanya HP, the regional in-charge for Vikram Travels, stated that about 99% of their Jammu and Kashmir bookings have been canceled, as families are opting for other destinations.

Flight Fares Drop!

In contrast to the soaring prices for alternative destinations, flight fares to Jammu and Kashmir have decreased significantly, as demand for trips to the region has dropped following the attack. This has led to lower ticket prices, although many travelers are still hesitant to book flights in light of safety concerns.

Shifting Preferences 

Tour operators in the region are noticing a clear shift in traveler preferences, with destinations like Kullu, Manali, and Sikkim gaining popularity. While these locations offer similar scenic beauty and cooler climates, the sudden increase in demand has also caused a rise in travel expenses, further complicating the decision-making process for tourists.

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News Network
April 29,2025

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Mangaluru: Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara has expressed concern over the mob lynching of an unidentified man in Mangaluru, in which several Hindutva activists have been arrested. The incident took place on April 27 near Bhatra Kallurti Temple in the Kudupu area on the outskirts of the city.

“Even if someone uttered offensive slogans, violence is not acceptable. The law must take its own course — taking matters into one’s own hands is completely wrong,” the Home Minister said, calling the act "deeply concerning."

He also urged the public to remain calm and avoid speculation. “We still don’t know if the victim was a local or from outside Karnataka. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and communal harmony.”

What Happened

The incident occurred around 3 PM on Sunday, during a cricket tournament that involved ten teams and more than 100 players. The accused have reportedly told the police that the victim shouted "Pakistan Zindabad" — a claim now central to the investigation. A physical altercation began between the man and a local youth named Sachin (26), which quickly escalated into a violent group assault.

Eyewitnesses said while some bystanders tried to intervene, others in the crowd beat the man with sticks and kicked him repeatedly. The body was discovered near the temple later in the day, around 5:30 PM, prompting a police alert.

Post-Mortem Reveals Brutality

Initially, police did not observe major visible injuries and suspected a natural death. However, further investigation and a post-mortem at Wenlock District Hospital revealed that the man had died from internal bleeding and shock due to multiple blunt-force injuries, especially to the back, limbs, genitals, and buttocks. The injuries were consistent with an assault using wooden logs.

“This was a brutal and unprecedented case,” said Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal. “We have not seen anything of this nature in the city before. The victim received no medical attention, and that proved fatal.”

Arrests and Legal Action

As of now, 15 individuals — including Sachin — have been arrested, all from Kudupu, Neermarga, Vamanjoor, and surrounding areas. The First Information Report (FIR), filed by local resident Deepak Kumar (33), names 19 individuals, with police expecting the number of accused to grow as they analyze CCTV footage and mobile data.

Authorities estimate that around 25 people were involved in the lynching. Given the number of attackers, the case has been registered under Section 103(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which specifically addresses mob lynching. The section allows for life imprisonment or death penalty for those found guilty.

“Everyone involved will be brought to justice. We will apply the strictest legal provisions,” Commissioner Agarwal stated.

Motive Under Investigation

While some arrested individuals claim the lynching was triggered by the man shouting pro-Pakistan slogans, the authorities have not yet confirmed the authenticity or context of those claims. The identity of the victim remains unknown, and forensic teams are working to establish his background and possible connections to the local area.

Police have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and urged the public to refrain from circulating misinformation or communal narratives.

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