VHP’s Kodagu chief & Hindutva advocate in Gauri Lankesh murder case escapes an attack on life.

Advocate P Krishnamurthy, lead lawyer for Hindu accused persons in Gauri Lankesh murder case was shot and luckily survived. The demand of search for ‘PFI extremists’ or ‘Naxalites’ behind the attack.

B Upendran | HENB | Madikeri | April 13, 2023:: Advocate P Krishnamurthy, a pro-Hindu lawyer, who was fighting the case on behalf of the Hindu accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case in Karnataka, was shot at by unidentified assailants last night. Advocate Krishnamurthy was traveling from Chettalli in Karnataka to Madikeri (District Coorg) while returning in his four-wheeler after a meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. During the journy they were attacked. The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) strongly condemned this cowardly attack. The Karnataka spokesperson of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mohan Gowda suspected ‘PFI extremists’ or ‘Naxalites’ hands behind the attack and urged rigours searching to nab the culprits. Adv Krishnamurthy also holds the position of Kodagu district president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

The fatal attack on the lead advocate of the pro-Hindutva accused persons in the Gauri Lankesh murder case is very serious and suspicious. Gauri Lankesh herself had said that she was in touch with Naxalites, and Naxalites also protested after her death. In this background, it is suspected that this attack is an attempt to put pressure on the pro-Hindu lawyers in this case. Although advocate Krishnamurthy survived the attack, the possibility of another attack on him cannot be ruled out. So they need armed police protection. Mr. Gowda also said that it is imperative to investigate which radical Jihadi organization like ‘Popular Front of India’ (PFI) is behind this cowardly attack or urban Naxalists who used to support Gauri Lankesh.

According to a press release by HJS, Advocate Krishnamurthy had no enmity with anyone. He is also active in the field of Hindutva activities. So it is apprehended that the anti-Hindu forces may attack Advocate Krishnamurthy.

“This attack is an attack on Hindutva. We are demanding that this organized crime be broken and the mastermind behind must be found. In this regard, we will soon meet the Director General of Police of Karnataka and make the above demand to him as well,” Gowda added.

Karnataka has seen deadly attacks on pro-Hindu leaders and activists in the past which killed many in that row. HJS also demanded strict action against these attackers who have been disrupting law and order in the state. Even before this, advocate Krishnamurthy was threatened with dire consequences by the terrorist organization ‘Popular Front of India’.

On Wednesday evening, P Krishna Murthy left his office in Madikeri and visited his colleague and fellow advocate BU Cariappa at Chettalli around 7 pm. The two then left for Kushalnagar to meet VHP worker Vinu and Bajrang Dal worker Shivaswami to hold discussions about the organizations’ workings.

The four reportedly had dinner at a local restaurant in Kushalnagar following which Krishnamurthy and Cariappa left for Chettalli. The two reached Chettalli around 9.50 pm. Krishnamurthy then dropped Cariappa off at Ponnathmotte. Krishnamurthy then left towards Madikeri via Chettalli Road.

“At around 11.05 pm, I was in my car and I had reached Abbyala when I heard a loud sound. The window above the car door on the left shattered as a bullet pierced it. I sped away from the spot,” Krishna Murthy shared.

The bullet hit car in the Madikeri Rural Police Station.

The advocate alleged that someone had tried to fire at him with a gun but missed the target.

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__Inputs from ENS and HJS.