Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with AICC General Secretary and Legislative Council member B.K. Hariprasad, in Bengaluru on May 29, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah insisted that communal harmony must prevail and hatred must end in Dakshina Kannada district.

The coastal district is on the boil following the murder of a youth on May 27 in Bantwal. Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the town till May 30.

On May 29, the Chief Minister went to the residence of Congress MLC B. K. Hariprasad to discuss the prevailing situation in Dakshina Kannada district.

“We had a general discussion on the prevailing situation in Mangaluru. There should be communal harmony in that region. There should not be any hatred among Hindus and Muslims. We have to bring harmony there, for which we had a discussion,” Siddaramaiah told reporters after visiting Mr. Hariprasad’s house.

He said he has asked Mr. Hariprasad to visit Mangaluru.

Regarding the revengeful killings in Dakshina Kannada, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, “We will take action as per law against anyone involved in it irrespective of how influential that person is. No one is above the law. Law alone is above all.”

When asked whether anti-communal task force will be constituted, Mr. Siddaramaiah said he will discuss about it.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said that he would hold a meeting on the rain situation in Karnataka with the deputy commissioners of districts and CEOs of zilla panchayats on May 30, which the ministers and secretaries will also attend.

Police have detained three persons, including prime suspects Deepak and Sumith, in connection with the murder of Abdul Rehman in Bantwal.

The killing comes close on the heels of the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty on May 1.