Mass resignations in Cong minority unit in Mangaluru over 'revenge killings'

Several Muslim functionaries of the governing Congress's minority unit in Dakshina Kannada quit en masse Thursday, accusing the Siddaramaiah government of negligence and failing to protect the community amid a spate of recent revenge killings.

Hours later, the government announced a specialised Communal Violence Control Force (CVCF) to curb tensions in the coastal region that includes Mangaluru, and transferred two top cops. The resignations were announced during an emergency meeting in Bolar, Mangaluru.

Party workers stormed the stage, demanding justice for Abdul Rahman, secretary of a mosque in Kolathamajalu area, who was brutally murdered recently. KPCC general secretary MS Mohammed, DK district Congress minority unit president Shahul Hameed and other seniors were present at the meeting, which descended into chaos.

Suhail Kandak, who was state secretary in the Youth Congress, was the first to step down, triggering a chain reaction and sending a strong message to the Congress high command as well as the state government.

Amid the uproar, Siddaramaiah issued a stern warning from Bengaluru, "We will take action as per law against anyone involved, irrespective of how influential that person is. No one is above the law." Late Thursday, the government transferred Mangaluru City police commissioner Anupam Agarwal & Dakshina Kannada SP Yateesh N to reinforce the message that it was serious about curbing violence.