Bengaluru: A day after a complaint was filed against noted playwright and Jnanapith awardee Girish Karnad, for abetting naxalism, the police said the matter was still under process. Karnad wore a placard around his neck that read ‘Me Too Urban Naxal’ at an event organised to mark the first death anniversary of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh on September 5 in the city.
A city based lawyer Amruthesh N.P, who is also fighting for all the accused in Gauri Lankesh murder case, had on Friday lodged a complaint with Vidhana Soudha police. Members of Sri Rama Sene and Hindu Jan Jagruti Samiti also filed a complaint with the city Police Commissioner, T. Suneel Kumar on Friday for the same and sought legal action against Karnad. The two outfits alleged that Karnad’s action promotes Naxalism, which has been banned. By donning the placard, he was trying to promote violence and criminal activities in the city.
They also alleged that the members of ‘Gauri Lankesh balaga’ have been making hate speeches against the nation and requested the police to take action against them. A senior police officer said all the complaints filed against Karnad, including the complaints filed with city police commissioner on Friday, are being transferred to the Usloor Gate police station as the incident took place in their jurisdiction.
‘No police security yet’
Girish Karnad’s son, Raghu Karnad told Deccan Chronicle that no police security has been provided to his family and no policemen have been deployed near their house. When questioned about the police complaints filed against his father, he said that they have nothing to say in this regard.
On September 5, during the first death anniversary of Gauri Lankesh, members of Hindu Janajagruta Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha took out a march from Bannappa Park to the Freedom Park to protest against the call to ban the Sanatan Sanstha and in support of the 12 people arrested in the Gauri case. The protesters claimed that those arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) were innocent and have been framed just because they were Hindu activists.
