Mangalore, September 25, 2013: Federation of Associations for Peace, an umbrella organisation of like-minded groups, has filed a police complaint against a Hindutva outfit for allegedly “attempting to destroy communal harmony” by announcing that it would distribute arms to youth to “protect Hindu dharma”.

At a public function on September 15, Swami Pranavananda, State executive president of the All India Hindu Mahasabha, said that the organisation would conduct a “Khadga Deeksha” where one takes a pledge with a sword in hand to dedicate oneself to protect the Hindu dharma. He had said that swords would be distributed to 5,000 young men here on October 25.

No FIR yet

Talking to presspersons here on Tuesday, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail, District president of the Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike, which is part of the umbrella organisation that has filed the complaint, said that the Mangalore North Police were yet to file an FIR.

“The police tried to dissuade us from filing the complaint,” he alleged. The complaint names six leaders of the All India Hindu Mahasabha.

The vedike said that it was disappointed as the police had not suo motu taken up the case. “With general elections due in 2014, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a circular to States warning them of the possibility of communal riots,” he said.

P.B. D’Sa, State president of PUCL, said that the situation in the district was deteriorating.

‘No delay’

Admitting that an FIR has not been filed in the complaint, Police Commissioner Manish Karbhikar said: “There is no question of delay or ulterior motive. They have submitted a kind of a petition, and we are inquiring into it.”

Source: The Hindu, September 25, 2013