'Kill mercilessly, no problem': Karnataka CM seen saying (video attached)
What's the story
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has found himself in the middle of a massive controversy after he was seen on video ordering someone to "kill mercilessly" to avenge the death of a local JD(S) leader.
Understandably, Kumaraswamy has come under fire.
Two days back, JD(S) leader H Prakash was murdered by four men in south Karnataka's Mandya district.
Here are the details.
Quote
The exact words of Kumaraswamy (in translation)
"He [JDS leader H. Prakash] was a good man, I don't know why did they murder him. Kill them [the assailants] mercilessly in a shootout, no problem," the Karnataka Chief Minister is heard saying in a video.
Details
Details about the incident
Kumaraswamy was heard giving the aforementioned order after the intelligence department briefed him about Prakash's murder when he landed in the Vijayapura district.
The alleged killers were arrested in connection with the murder, and are currently out on bail.
It is believed that Kumaraswamy was instructing a senior police official to murder the four accused in an encounter.
Twitter Post
WATCH: The video where Kumaraswamy is heard giving the order
#WATCH Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy caught on cam telling someone on the phone 'He(murdered JDS leader Prakash) was a good man, I don't know why did they murder him. Kill them (assailants) mercilessly in a shootout, no problem. (24.12.18) pic.twitter.com/j42dqiRs0a
— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2018
Murder
H Prakash had been murdered in cold blood
Reportedly, Prakash had been close to Kumaraswamy.
According to NDTV, the local JD(S) leader was hacked to death on Monday in the town of Maddur in the Mandya district.
The murder took place after four men on motorcycles chased Prakash down, forced his car to stop, and attacked him with machetes.
A profusely bleeding Prakash was then rushed to a hospital where he died.
Explanation
Kumaraswamy has said that his words were an emotional outburst
Leaders close to Kumaraswamy have said that the Chief Minister was not giving on order, but his words were more akin to outrage.
Kumaraswamy himself has issued a statement saying that he had not given an order, and that his words came out in an "emotional" moment when he came to learn about Prakash's murder.
Criticism
Karnataka BJP chief Yeddyurappa has launched an attack on Kumaraswamy
However, despite Kumaraswamy's attempts to play down the incident, Karnataka BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa has launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka Chief Minister.
Yeddyurappa told the media that he was outraged by Kumaraswamy's words, adding that he was concerned about what would happen to law and order in the state if the Chief Minister himself was sanctioning extra-judicial killings.
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Yeddyurappa says that this isn't expected from a Chief Minister
"I never expected this from the Chief Minister. If he speaks like this, what will happen to the law and order situation? An irresponsible and nonsense statement by Kumaraswamy," said Yeddyurappa.