Belagavi, Karnataka – In a deeply disturbing incident from Karnataka’s Belagavi district, three individuals associated with the right-wing group Sri Rama Sene have been arrested for allegedly poisoning a government school’s drinking water supply in an attempt to malign and remove its Muslim headmaster, Suleman Gorinaik. Several children aged between seven and ten were hospitalized after consuming the contaminated water.
According to reports from The News Minute, the accused – Sagara Patil, taluk president of Sri Rama Sene, along with his associates Naganagowda Patil and Krishna Madara – orchestrated the act to tarnish the image of Gorinaik, who has been serving as headmaster at the Government Lower Primary School in Janata Colony, Hoolikatte village, for the past 13 years.
Police investigations revealed that Krishna Madara lured a student with chocolates and money to pour insecticide into the school’s water tank on July 14. The minor, unaware of the consequences, followed the instructions, resulting in several children falling seriously ill.
Belagavi Superintendent of Police, Bhimshankar Guled, confirmed that the plan was hatched over two months and was masterminded by Sagara Patil. He stated that Patil even blackmailed his driver, Krishna Madara, using details of his inter-caste relationship to compel him to participate in the plot. Madara then involved his relative, Naganagowda.
“These are young men who should be contributing to nation-building, yet they committed a heinous crime and used an innocent child to do so,” said SP Bhimshankar. He added that all children are now recovering.
The Sri Rama Sene, founded by former RSS and Bajrang Dal member Pramod Muthalik, is a Hindu nationalist outfit known for moral policing, anti-cow slaughter campaigns, and targeting interfaith relationships. The group gained notoriety in 2009 after its members assaulted women at a pub in Mangaluru.
Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah strongly condemned the act, terming it a horrifying reflection of the growing religious extremism in the state. “This was not just an attack on a person but could have led to the massacre of innocent children,” he said.
Invoking the spiritual legacy of the region, he questioned, “In the land of the Sharanas, how could such hatred and cruelty emerge?” He also criticized BJP leaders and right-wing ideologues for spreading communal hatred, asking, “Will Pramod Muthalik, BY Vijayendra, or R Ashoka take responsibility for this?”
Siddaramaiah emphasized that a special task force has been established to monitor hate speeches and communal violence. He assured that all legal measures are being pursued against those involved.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the Chief Minister expressed hope in the people of Karnataka: “I still believe that those who wish to live in peace far outnumber those who spread hatred.”
