Mass resignations in Congress minority unit in Mangaluru over ‘revenge killings’

MANGALURU/BENGALURU: Several Muslim functionaries of the governing Congress’s minority unit in Dakshina Kannada quit en masse Thursday, accusing the state govt of negligence and failing to protect the community amid a spate of revenge killings.

Hours later, the govt announced a specialised Communal Violence Control Force (CVCF) to curb tensions in the coastal region that includes Mangaluru, and transferred two top police officers.The resignations were announced during an emergency meeting in Bolar, Mangaluru, attended by both booth-level workers and senior workers. Party workers stormed the stage, demanding justice for Abdul Rahman, secretary of a mosque in Kolathamajalu area who was brutally murdered.KPCC general secretary MS Mohammed, DK district Congress minority unit president Shahul Hameed and other seniors were present at themeeting, which descended into chaos. The leaders struggled to calm the agitated rank and file. Under intense pressure, Suhail Kandak, who was state secretary in Youth Congress, was the first to step down, triggering a chain reaction and sending a strong message to Congress high command and state govt.

Siddaramaiah issued a stern warning from Bengaluru. “We will take action as per law against anyone involved, irrespective of how influential that person is,” the CM said. Late Thursday evening, the govt transferred Mangaluru City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal and Dakshina Kannada SP Yateesh N to reinforce the message it was serious about curbing violence.On CVCF govt said it’d comprise personnel from AntiNaxal Force who would be deployed in Mangaluru, Udupi and Shivamogga, districts witnessing heightened communal tensions.