The Mangalore city police, on their own, registered a case on Saturday against the group that reportedly celebrated the death of writer U.R. Ananthamurthy on Friday. They had burst crackers near the well known Kadri Manjunatha temple in Kadri. A couple of local TV channels showed footage of the celebrations.
Police Commissioner R. Hithendra said the Mangalore East police have taken up a case under Section 290 of the Indian Penal Code (committing public nuisance). Bursting crackers after the demise of the writer was an inappropriate act leading to public misconduct, Mr. Hithendra said. The commissioner said video footage of the act was being watched closely to identify persons involved in the celebration. No specific group has been identified, he added.
Meanwhile, activists and Congress members, who staged two protests in the city, condemned the act of the group involved in the celebrations. “We should ignore such incidents while taking forward the ideals and thinking of this great writer,” said Narendra Nayak, president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.
Vasanth Achary, president of the Centre for Indian Trade Union, Mangalore unit, said celebrating a death was more shocking than the news of losing such a great writer. Shekar Hejamady of Dalit Sangarsh Samiti said leaders of organisations to whom this celebrating group related to should explain their act to the people. Writer Sara Abboobacker and Democratic Youth Federation of India’s State president Muneer Katipalla also particpated.
‘Act against State’ MLC Ivan D’Souza said such behaviour was akin to an act against the State. District Congress Committee’s in charge president Ibrahim Kodijal, District Congress spokesperson Kallige Taranath Shetty and District Youth Congress president Mithun Rai were among those who attended the demonstration.
