Latest news with #SriramSene
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
At least 11 children fall ill after members of Hindu group poison school's water, police say
Several children at a state school in southern India's Karnataka reportedly fell ill after consuming poisoned drinking water, police said. Authorities arrested three people in connection with the incident, including the local leader of the Hindu right-wing group Sriram Sene, from the state's Belagavi district. They had poisoned the school's water tank at Hoolikatti village in an attempt to force the transfer of the Muslim headmaster, Belagavi police superintendent Bheemashankar S Guled said. He said Sriram Sene leader Sagar Patil and another alleged perpetrator Nagangouda Patil had blackmailed a local resident named Krishna Madar over his interfaith relationship and coerced him into poisoning the school's water supply, The Hindu reported. Madar allegedly purchased three types of insecticide, mixed them in a juice packet, and persuaded a young student to pour the contents into the water tank. 'We utilised scientific evidence and student interactions to solve this case. This was a planned, deeply disturbing attempt motivated by communal hatred,' Mr Guled said, according to The Indian Express. Mr Guled told reporters on Saturday that the Sriram Sene men had plotted to frame headmaster Suleman Gorinaik for the poisoning. They aimed to stir sectarian tensions by orchestrating a situation that would discredit the headmaster and force his removal, authorities said. The Independent has reached out to the Hindu group for comment. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah described it as 'a heinous act driven by religious fundamentalism and hatred'. 'Many children fell ill in this incident that took place 15 days ago,' he said in a social media post on Sunday. 'Fortunately, no one was killed.' The Times of India reported that 11 children had taken ill after drinking the poisoned water but recovered. 'This incident, which could have led to the massacre of small children, is proof that religious fundamentalism and communal hatred can lead to any heinous act. I cannot believe it even at this moment,' the chief minister added. The chief minister also launched a scathing attack on the prime minister Narandra Modi's BJP party, accusing its leaders of using religion to sow societal division. 'Let the BJP leaders, who sow hatred in society in the name of religion and cook their political rice, do some self-criticism,' Siddaramaiah said. Calling for vigilance against radicalism of all kinds, he added: 'We have formed a special task force to prevent hate speeches and communal riots, and we are taking all possible action against such people within the ambit of the law. For all our efforts to bear fruit, the public should also raise their voice against such forces, resist them, and file complaints. Congratulations to the police personnel who broke the evil plan of carrying out the massacre of children.' In the wake of the incident, Muslim organisations in Karnataka have demanded a ban on Sri Ram Sene. They submitted a memorandum outlining their demand to the government through the Belagavi deputy commissioner's office on Tuesday.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
At least 11 children fall ill after members of Hindu group poison school's water, police say
Several children at a state school in southern India 's Karnataka reportedly fell ill after consuming poisoned drinking water, police said. Authorities arrested three people in connection with the incident, including the local leader of the Hindu right-wing group Sriram Sene, from the state's Belagavi district. They had poisoned the school's water tank at Hoolikatti village in an attempt to force the transfer of the Muslim headmaster, Belagavi police superintendent Bheemashankar S Guled said. He said Sriram Sene leader Sagar Patil and another alleged perpetrator Nagangouda Patil had blackmailed a local resident named Krishna Madar over his interfaith relationship and coerced him into poisoning the school's water supply, The Hindu reported. Madar allegedly purchased three types of insecticide, mixed them in a juice packet, and persuaded a young student to pour the contents into the water tank. 'We utilised scientific evidence and student interactions to solve this case. This was a planned, deeply disturbing attempt motivated by communal hatred,' Mr Guled said, according to The Indian Express. Mr Guled told reporters on Saturday that the Sriram Sene men had plotted to frame headmaster Suleman Gorinaik for the poisoning. They aimed to stir sectarian tensions by orchestrating a situation that would discredit the headmaster and force his removal, authorities said. The Independent has reached out to the Hindu group for comment. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah described it as 'a heinous act driven by religious fundamentalism and hatred'. 'Many children fell ill in this incident that took place 15 days ago,' he said in a social media post on Sunday. 'Fortunately, no one was killed.' The Times of India reported that 11 children had taken ill after drinking the poisoned water but recovered. 'This incident, which could have led to the massacre of small children, is proof that religious fundamentalism and communal hatred can lead to any heinous act. I cannot believe it even at this moment,' the chief minister added. The chief minister also launched a scathing attack on the prime minister Narandra Modi's BJP party, accusing its leaders of using religion to sow societal division. 'Let the BJP leaders, who sow hatred in society in the name of religion and cook their political rice, do some self-criticism,' Siddaramaiah said. Calling for vigilance against radicalism of all kinds, he added: 'We have formed a special task force to prevent hate speeches and communal riots, and we are taking all possible action against such people within the ambit of the law. For all our efforts to bear fruit, the public should also raise their voice against such forces, resist them, and file complaints. Congratulations to the police personnel who broke the evil plan of carrying out the massacre of children.' In the wake of the incident, Muslim organisations in Karnataka have demanded a ban on Sri Ram Sene. They submitted a memorandum outlining their demand to the government through the Belagavi deputy commissioner's office on Tuesday.
India Today
04-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Hindu outfit leader held for poisoning school water to get Muslim principal ousted
In Karnataka's Belagavi district, the drinking water at a government school was allegedly poisoned in a targeted attempt against the school's headmaster, who belongs to the Muslim community. The incident, believed to have been fuelled by communal hatred, reportedly took place on July 14 and left several schoolchildren unwell. Fortunately, there were no have arrested three individuals in connection with the case, including Sagar Patil, the taluk president of the Hindu right-wing group Sriram Sene. Authorities suspect the poisoning was a deliberate effort to malign the headmaster and pressure officials to transfer him from the a statement, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned how such cruelty could occur in the land of the Sharanas (devotees of Lord Shiva), who taught that compassion is the root of righteousness. 'Even at this moment, I cannot bring myself to believe it,' he said, expressing disbelief and anguish. He went on to criticise leaders of the BJP for spreading hatred in society under the guise of religion for political gain. 'Will Pramod Mutalik (Sriram Sene chief) take responsibility for this incident? Will BY Vijayendra take responsibility? Will R Ashok take responsibility?' he asked, calling for accountability from those who, he alleged, have supported socially destructive Chief Minister also warned against the dangers posed by all forms of extremism. 'All forms of fanaticism and fundamentalism are dangerous to human society,' he said. He noted that the government has established a special task force to monitor hate speech and curb communal violence. 'We are taking all possible measures within the legal framework against such elements. For our efforts to bear fruit, the public must also raise their voices against such forces, resist them, and file complaints,' he the seriousness of the incident, Siddaramaiah expressed hope that the desire for communal harmony far outweighs the influence of those driven by hatred. He concluded by congratulating the police for their prompt action in foiling what he described as a heinous plot to harm children and voiced confidence that the justice system would ensure the perpetrators face appropriate a separate but equally alarming incident reported on August 1, miscreants allegedly poured pesticide into the drinking water tank of a government primary school in Hoovinakone village, located in Shivamogga district's Hosanagara taluk. The incident came to light when the school's kitchen staff detected a foul smell and immediately alerted the headmaster, averting a potentially deadly FIR has been filed, and the police are investigating the case. Siddaramaiah, in a statement posted on social media, said, 'The state government has taken the incident of miscreants mixing pesticide into the drinking water tank of the government primary school in Hoovinakone, Hosanagar taluk, Shivamogga district, with utmost seriousness.'Calling it a deliberate attempt to massacre dozens of children, he said, 'It is my sentiment that this act is no less than any terrorist act. Due to the timely awareness of the kitchen staff, a major tragedy that could have occurred has been averted. I congratulate the school's kitchen staff.'advertisement'I have instructed the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, identify the culprits who committed this act, and ensure they face stringent punishment,' he added. 'The mindset of poisoning drinking water reveals a degradation of humanity among us. Everyone needs to introspect on this matter.'- Ends IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
