– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
A five-day arms and combat training was conducted by the Hindutva far-right group Sri Rama Sene in Todalabagi village in Jamkhandi taluk of Bagalkot district in Karnataka between 25 and 29 December last.
Videos have emerged on social media platforms showing participants including minors practising airguns, stick fighting, and other martial arts techniques, including karate. The training camp was reportedly attended by 186 persons from different parts of Karnataka.
Police has booked members of the Sri Rama Sene on Tuesday for using firearms without permission at a five-day camp in Bagalkot district.
A police officer said the camp was held in Todalbagi village between December 25 and 29 last year and that there was gun training on its last day. “Sri Rama Sene has said that 186 youths participated in the event where they were given training in firearms, lathi, and other things,” the officer said.
The officer said the Sene had not sought any permission from the police. “The probe has revealed that the Sene members used air guns, which are prohibited,” the officer added. The complainant in the case is Ningappa Shivappa Hugar, owner of the land where the camp was held.
The accused include Prakash Manohar Patthar, Yamanappa Kori, Anand Jangi Mutt, Raju Khanappanavar, Gangadhar Kulakarni, Mahanthesh Honnappanavar, Bharat Laddi, Eeranna Poojar, Somu Gudi, Hulagappa Valmiki, Sadashiva Mali and Anila Kirikiri
They have been booked under Section 329 (3) (criminal trespass) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Sections 30 (contravention of licence or rule of the Indian Arms Act), 2(1) (use of prohibited arms) and 2 (10) (acquisition of arms and weapons) of the Indian Arms Act.
When videos of the training went viral, the police were criticised for not initiating action against the Sene.
The All-India Lawyers’ Association for Justice sent a letter to DGP Alok Mohan on Tuesday, seeking action. “The police department has not taken any action against the organisers of this incident so far, and it has been reported in the media that the Bagalkot SP has stated that a probe is underway. This statement by the SP is unacceptable. The police department should have registered a suo motu case against those who gave weapons training, but no case has been registered,” the letter read.
Sri Rama Sene’s Pramod Muthalik has said that his outfit organises such events every year. “We used air guns to train the youth. Usually, we select youth who are between 20 and 35 years. After the videos went viral, police asked us to produce the guns that were used, and we have given them. We are trying to instil nationalism, to train them for adverse situations,” he said.
