Police on Monday registered a case against seven persons, including a Maharashtra-based Hindutva leader, allegedly for hurting the religious sentiments during a procession held at Machhe village.
The video of the incident, which has made rounds on the internet, shows leader Harshita standing on a vehicle, stopping the moving vehicle near the Dargah, and making gestures of shooting an arrow towards the Dargah, leading to hurting the religious sentiments of the community. Meanwhile, the people in the rally could clearly and ostensibly be seen cheering the incident.
It has further been reported that she delivered a speech at the gathering and incited religious sentiments. A complaint in this regard was lodged by Abdul Khader Mujawar. Subsequently, cases were registered at the rural police station against the event organizers, including Belagavi residents Supreet Simpi, Shrikant Kambale, Bettappa Tarihal, Shivaji Shahapurkar, Gangaram Tarihal, and Mallappa.
The complaint registered reveals that the procession was taken out following the convention, and when the procession reached near the Ansari Dargah. The Hindutva leader, standing at the top of the vehicle, asked the vehicle to stop and conducted the gesture, “thereby hurting the religious sentiments of another community.”
Provocative Speech Delivered
According to the probe based on a complaint filed by Abdul Khader Mujawar, the accused—Harshita Thakur, Supreet Simpi, Shrikant Kamble, Bettappa Tarihal, Shivaji Shahapurkar, Gangaram Tarihal, and Mallappa—prior to gesturing an arrow at Dargah, delivered a speech filled with hatred against another community, thereby hurting their sentiments.
Moreover, the same group allegedly illegally put up the procession banners near the dargah. Based on these incidents, the police have registered a case under relevant legal provisions, including Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and are gathering video footage, records related to the installation of banners, and other evidence.
