The Shivamogga police have invoked Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, against 10 accused arrested in connection with the murder of Bhajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishat activist Harsha on February 20. This will facilitate the transfer of the probe to National Investigation Agency (NIA), police sources said.
While senior Minister K.S. Eshwarappa had demanded the case be handed over to NIA, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje had on Saturday said it will be done in a week’s time.
Generally invoked in cases involving national security, UAPA has been invoked in murder cases of Hindutwa activists earlier too, such as murders of BJP workers K. Raju in Mysuru and Rudresh in Bengaluru in 2016. The BJP Government had recently invoked the stringent provisions of the Act in DJ Halli violence of 2020 and handed over the case to NIA.
