(LR) Pravin Netru and Shafi Bellare. File photos/Twitter
Belare, who is currently in jail, has filed his nomination through his supporters. SDPI workers rally in Puttur after filing nomination of Bellare
Shafi Belare, the main accused in the murder of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leader Pravin Netru, has filed his nomination from Puttur constituency for the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka. The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), considered the political wing of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), has fielded Shafi Belare from the Dakshina Kannada district seat.
Belare, who is currently in jail, has filed his nomination through his supporters. SDPI workers held a rally in Puttur after Bellare’s nomination was filed.
Significantly, Shafi Bellare is currently in jail after his arrest by the NIA in the Praveen Netaru murder case. According to the NIA chargesheet, Shafi did a recce of Praveen Netru’s house and gave information about him to the killers.
After the SDPI decided to field a murder accused, the move certainly drew criticism from several quarters, including the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Praveen’s family members have also objected to Shafi contesting from Puttur. According to a report in Udayavani, Praveen’s father Shekhar Pujari has demanded that a murder accused like Shafi should not be allowed to contest elections at any cost.
Last year on the evening of July 26, BJP Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Netaru was attacked by bike-borne assailants at Bellare village in Suliya taluk of the district. He was killed by being stabbed with a sharp weapon. The BJP Yuva Morcha leader earlier owned a broiler shop at Bellarey near Puttur. Unrest broke out in Dakshina Kannada district after Netru’s murder. Soon after, state Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai handed over the Praveen Netaru murder case to the NIA.
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