Poll ticket for ‘murderer’ in Karnataka polls? SDPI stokes row; to give ticket to person accused of killing BJYM leader

New Delhi: Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political wing of banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) on Monday said that it will field murder accused Shafi Bellare, one of the accused in killing of BJP youth wing leader Praveen Nettaru, from Puttur constituency in the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Stoking a major controversy, months ahead of state polls, the SDPI state president Abdul Majeed said that the party will give ticket to Shafi Bellare from Puttur constituency in South Karnataka. Shafi is currently under arrest and being grilled by the NIA in Praveen Nettaru murder case. The investigative agency in its probe has found Shafi of involvement in plotting his murder. He reportedly conducted recee of Praveen’s house and provided secret information about victim’s movement to the killer extremists.

The announcement has sparked resulted in srong backlash from the right wing leaders, with latter ripping into the radical outfit for providing ‘legislative cover’ to the murder accused. BJP has taken strong objection to the radical group’s choice of candidate and said that its real face has been exposed. BJP leaders accused the PFI’s affiliate group of not just shielding the ‘murderer’ but also giving him political legitimacy by offering poll ticket.

BJP leader S Prakash, speaking to a news channel said that by giving blatant support to a murder accused, they have again shown that they are nothing more than terror fanning organization.

Who was Praveen Nettaru?

Praveen Nettaru, a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) was brutally hacked to death by bike-borne assailants on July 26, last year. He used to run a broiler shop in Bellare near Puttur district.

Following his murder, the NIA had taken more than 100 suspects in custody including Shafi Bellare.

SDPI has defended its action, saying that Shafi has been absolved of charges and no case exists against him. However, this is far from reality as he is still in NIA custody over alleged murder.