Police are targeting us because we are Muslims

Claim by the father of the accused Shafiq in Pravin Nettaru’s murder case

Karnataka’s BJP Yuva Morcha’s leader Pravin Nettaru

Bengaluru – Investigations into the murder case of Karnataka’s BJP Yuva Morcha’s leader Pravin Nettaru are going on. On the 28^th of July 2022, Shafiq Bellare and Zakir Savanoor have been arrested in this context.

Zakir and Shafiq

Shafiq’s father Ibrahim said that he used to work in Pravin’s shop earlier when Pravin and Shafiq were friends. Pravin even used to visit their house. Ibrahim then accused the Police of targeting Shafiq since they were Muslims.

The father of #ShafiqBallere, who has been arrested in connection with the murder of a BJP Yuva Morcha leader in Karnataka, said they have been targetted because they are Muslims.#BJP #Karnataka | (Priyanka R)https://t.co/pVK1ZdEA91

— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) July 28, 2022

On the other hand, Shafiq’s wife said that Shafiq was connected to the Popular Front of India (PFI)’s activities, but he didn’t know anything about Pravin’s murder. Shafiq has a shop selling beetle nuts in the Sulya area, while Zakir runs an eatery at Savanoor in Puttur. The Police have so far taken 21 persons into custody, all of whom are stated to be connected to PFI and its political wing SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India).

Editorial viewpoint

Such statements unnecessarily give a chance to anti-India forces to make false propaganda against India as being anti-Muslim; therefore, now, action should be taken even against Shafiq’s father !