Mangaluru (TOI): Even as city police are on the lookout for key players wanted in connection with murder of RTI activist Vinayak Baliga, disciples of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan has met city police chief M Chandra Sekhar expressing their angst at the math being dragged into the issue. Describing the murder of Baliga as unfortunate and that the community stands by his family in their darkest hour, the disciples said sullying the name of the math in this connection is unfair.
Narayan Shenoy, secretary of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan, Bengaluru, who led a delegation of devotees to meet Sekhar on Monday said a section of the media had needlessly dragged the seer of the math, Sri Samyamindra Tirtha, into the issue through speculative reports. "We have urged the (police) commissioner to take note of the same and take legal action as per section 505 of the Indian Penal Code and provide the community with justice," he said.
Narasimha Acharya, priest of Sri Venkataramana Temple, said the Gowd Saraswath Brahmin community is in a quandary over reports that have cast aspersion on community's religious head. Describing the murder of Baliga as unfortunate and that community prays to the almighty to give his family the strength to bear this loss, he asserted that the math has no connection with the murder and media too has the responsibility of not spreading falsehoods and lies.
The city police chief later said community leaders expressed their concern over incorrect representation of facts pertaining to the case and the hurt it has caused to the community at large. Noting that the delegation sought action against the media, he said the police department will seek legal opinion and proceed accordingly. "It will be prudent for the media to confirm facts pertaining to an ongoing police investigation into the case before publishing a story," he said.
Earlier, Sekhar said police need Naresh Shenoy, Srikanth, Shailesh and Vignesh in connection with the murder of RTI activist. "The investigations can proceed further once we get first three of the four named as we are of the firm belief that they are involved in the case," he said. The motive for the murder will be known only once the trio are questioned, he said, adding police are constantly on the lookout for these people who are changing their hideouts constantly.
Asserting that Shenoy, leader of Yuva Brigade, is much in India as the lookout notice against him is in force, he said police is also aware of attempts by certain interested parties who are trying to divert attention of investigators through canards and rumours. "We have collected physical evidence against those arrested and are awaiting forensic science laboratory reports to back up the evidence," he said., adding police is waiting for more confirmation before the filing the chargesheet.
