Jealousy over BJP worker’s rise led to murder, says family

Praveen Poojary was beaten to death by cow vigilantes allegedly for transporting cattle for slaughter

The grieving family of Praveen Poojary, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker who was beaten to death by Hindu Jagarana Vedike (HJV) activists on Wednesday night, suspect he might have been murdered as many were “unable to digest his rise and popularity.”

Poojary was attacked by HJV activists at Karjike village who accused him of transporting cattle for slaughter. He later succumbed to injuries.

Pramila Poojary, Praveen’s sister, said the family was not well off but her brother had come up by dint of sheer hard work and set up his own business, which was resented by many.

He was also a local BJP leader. Ramesh Poojary, a relative, said the way his van was waylaid gave rise to suspicion.

“When he was called at 8 p.m., he did not even know it was for transporting cattle,” he said. Police sources, however, ruled out the possibility of a conspiracy.

In judicial custody

Meanwhile, the Court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate has remanded all 18 accused in the murder case to judicial custody till August 31, here on Friday.

The accused included Shrikanth, the main accused, and the convener of the district unit of HJV, Aravind. “The process of producing the remaining 11 before the court is on,” said K.T. Balakrishna, Superintendent of Police.