Pro-Pakistan slogan is treason, says CM Siddaramaiah after Kerala man lynched in Mangaluru

BENGALURU: CM Siddaramaiah said Wednesday that speaking in favour of Pakistan amounts to treason, referencing to the Mangaluru incident in which a man from Kerala was lynched in Mangaluru for allegedly shouting slogans in favour of Pakistan during a local cricket match.
"Such an act amounts to betrayal of the nation and constitutes treason," said the CM, who came under scrutiny for his "war not the first option" remark after the Pahalgam massacre.
Mohammad Ashraf, aged around 40 and from Ullapalli village in Manandawadi of Wayanad district, was allegedly assaulted with sticks by a mob near Bhatra Kallurti temple in Kudupu village on April 27. He died of internal injuries and shock.
The CM said that if 'Pakistan zindabad' slogans had been raised, then it's wrong. "Inquiry into the incident is going on, and a case has been registered. Let the report come, and the guilty will not be spared." Earlier, home minister G Parameshwara had said nearly 20 people have been arrested in the case.
Mob lynching victim identified as Wayanad native; 5 more held
The man who died in a mob lynching incident in Mangaluru has been identified as a native of Wayanad in Kerala. Arrangements were made to send his mortal remains back to his native place, police confirmed.
City police commissioner Anupam Agrawal stated that the victim in the case was identified as Ashraf, a resident of Pulpalli village in Sultan Bathery taluk of Wayanad district, Kerala.
Upon receiving the information, Karnataka assembly speaker UT Khader immediately contacted AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and MLA T Siddique. The victim's brother, Abdul Jabbar, and other family members reached Mangaluru later on Tuesday night and confirmed the identity of the deceased.
The body was then washed and prepared for burial at the Zeenath Baksh Juma Masjid in Mangaluru. After completing the funeral prayers, the body was transported to Kerala at 5am on Wednesday, escorted by a police jeep.
As per the instructions of Khader, several Congress Minority Wing leaders, including district president Shahul Hameed KK, former mayor Ashraf K, Suhail Kandak, Sunil Bajalakeri, Harshad Varkady, Lawrence D'Souza, and Wahid Kudroli, stayed at the location until morning and assisted with the process.
Total arrests now 20
Police commissioner Anupam Agrawal said in connection with the murder case registered at Mangaluru Rural police station, five more accused persons were arrested. The accused are Yathiraj, hailing from near Kaikamba Post Office, Sachin from Vamanjur, Anil from Kulashekara Padavu, Sushanth Kudupu, and Adarsh from Kudupu. With this, the total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 20.
District minister Dinesh Gundu Rao urged home minister G Parameshwara to consider the appeal made by Purushotham Chitrapura, president, Block Congress Committee, Surthakal seeking the suspension of police inspector Shivakumar immediately and form a high-level investigation team to take necessary steps to arrest the real accused.
CPM demands SIT probe
CPM Dakshina Kannada district secretary Muneer Katipalla demanded that the state govt take the case seriously. He said a special investigation team (SIT) should be constituted under a senior, honest IPS officer from outside the district to probe the lynching.
Additionally, a separate investigation must be launched into the police department's deliberate attempts to suppress the case. CPM also demanded that Mangaluru Rural police station inspector and police commissioner be suspended for serious dereliction of duty.
The probe revealed that on April 27, around 3pm, during a cricket match near Bhatra Kallurti Temple grounds, the man was assaulted by a group of individuals. Although some bystanders attempted to intervene, the group continued to assault him, which led to his death.
"The victim, who visited the ground, had an argument with Sachin, an autorickshaw driver, following which Sachin allegedly assaulted him. Later, he was joined by the others who continued to beat the victim with hands, sticks and kicked him," the commissioner said.