Karnataka: Protest in Kumta turns violent over death of activist Paresh Mesta

According to reports, law and order situation in Karnataka's Kumta in Uttara Kannada district turned violent over death of activist Paresh Mesta. 

According to a Deccan Herald report, enraged crowd torched police cars and set IGP's car on fire. The car driver was also injured in the process. Currently, there is high police cover in Kumta and 25 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. However, not only Kumta other places in Karnataka have also reported unrest in the last few days after news of Mesta's death. 

According to NewsMinute, tension prevailed in Honnovar after the body was found in a lake on last Friday night. Mesta's family has alleged that there was foul play and it's unlikely that he drowned in the lake. BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje has alleged that it's a 'brutal murder' and the state government is trying to cover it up. Several top leaders including Union Minister Ananth Kumar was part of Mesta's funeral procession, the report says. According to BJP MP Karandlaje, police were mute spectators when a hostile mob attacked Mesta near a temple on Wednesday. 

The trigger was a street fight between an autorickshaw driver and motorbike rider, which soon took a communal colour. There was stone pelting too and shops were attacked. Reports suggest that Mesta was missing after trying to evade stone pelting. His body was found from Shettikere Lake a couple of days later.