Mangaluru city police have booked Dakshina Kannada district Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) joint secretary Sharan Pumpwell after he and his followers planted saffron flags calling for a boycott of Muslim traders during festivals in Hindu temples in Karnataka.
Mangaluru city police commissioner Anupam Agarwal said Wednesday a case has been registered against Pumpwell and others under section 153 (a) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Agarwal said, “Pumpwell gave a statement urging Hindus to purchase their items of necessity only from shops owned and run by members of the Hindu community”.
With temple fairs season starting in coastal Karnataka, the VHP and Sanathana Hindu Vyaparasthara Sangha have been opposing allowing non-Hindus to participate in business at the fairs.
