Mangaluru(TOI): District unit of BJP has raised question marks over ability of the district administration to restore rule of law in Bantwal given that prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC in trouble torn taluk is now in place for well over 40-days. Likening the situation to use of Armed Forces Special Power Act in trouble torn valley state of Jammu and Kashmir, BJP demanded that district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai step down forthwith to help restore peace.

Brijesh Chowta, general secretary of district unit of party said the murder of RSS worker Sharath Madivala allegedly carried out by 'jihadi and communal forces' and the efforts by police to stymie a democratic and peaceful protest by Hindu organisations in Bantwal on Friday against the incident exemplifies the situation. The stone pelting on a peaceful procession of Sharath's body on Saturday and arrest of 'innocent' youths in this connection only queers the pitch, he said.

Blaming the 'funds' generated from illegal cattle transport, drugs and sand for fuelling the unrest in DK district in general and Bantwal taluk in particular, Brijesh said even the past district chief Bhushan Gulabrao Borase has alluded to some of this fears that the party has expressed, as being true. The police should act on elements that are in to these three types of organized crime and also act impartially in dealing with elements that foment communal trouble, he added.

Expressing concern over inflammatory posts being made in Mangalore Muslims, a Facebook page, Brijesh said the party has lodged an official complaint at Mangaluru North PS seeking action against administrators of the page. Demanding adequate police protection to RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat threatened openly in this page, he also demanded a ban on organisations such as SDPI, PFI and KFD, whom he held responsible for fomenting trouble in the district.