Hate message against Poojary: Author held

The author of a hate message against B Janardhana Poojary, which has gone viral on social media, was arrested on Tuesday.

Hakim of Koornadka village in Puttur taluk, was earlier detained at the Mangalore International Airport by immigration officers and later arrested by Kavoor police.

Hakim, who was working in Saudi Arabia, had reportedly made an audio clip demanding that veteran Congress leader Poojary be banished from the district and killed in an encounter with the police. Poojary’s statement that the Ayodhya temple would be built on the disputed site, made before reporters at the Kudroli Gokarnanatheshwara Temple in December, has drawn the ire of Hakim.

Complaint by MLA

Immediately as the audio clip went viral on social media, former MLA J R Lobo filed a complaint to former City Commissioner of Police T R Suresh, demanding strict action against the author of the hate message.

Panambur ACP Srinivas Gowda told DH that the immigration officer had detained Hakim as the latter arrived at the airport from Saudi Arabia, as a look-out notice was issued against him.

“Hakim’s involvement (in creating and circulating the hate message) will be known during the investigation,” Gowda added.