Kumaraswamy heard on phone saying kill ‘mercilessly’, later claims it wasn’t an ‘order’

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy is in the eye of the storm after being caught on tape ordering someone – mostly believed to be a police officer – to ‘mercilessly’ avenge the killing of a local JD(S) leader.

NDTV reported that he is heard saying in the clip: “He (Prakash) was a good man have. I don't know who killed him in this way. Kill the miscreant mercilessly. There would be no issues.”

However, leaders close to CM claimed it was an ‘emotional outburst and not an order’.

In a video, the Karnataka Chief Minister can be seen asking for the killers to ‘be shot mercilessly’.

The NewsMinute quoted him saying: “He was a good man. I don’t know who killed him and who killed him in this manner. Shoot them(the killers) mercilessly, there would be no issues.”

#BIGNEWS: #Karnataka CM @hd_kumaraswamy orders shootout of killers of #JDS leader Honnagere Prakash. CM said, "kill them mercilessly, there's no problem." pic.twitter.com/KOdvJrWR4s

— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) December 24, 2018

News 9 reported him saying that his statement was in a 'fit of rage' and he also requested supporters of the deceased leader not to 'lose their cool'. 

Kumaraswamy also said something in the same vein and said: “It was not an order passed by me as the chief minister. It was due to anger. The suspects are wanted in two other murder cases. They were in jail and now they killed one more person.”

#BIGNEWS: #Karnataka CM @hd_kumaraswamy clarified his statement on ordering shootout of #JDS leader's killers. He said, it was in a fit of rage and also requested the deceased leader's supporters to not lose their cool. pic.twitter.com/w0ajgz7iAL

— NEWS9 (@NEWS9TWEETS) December 24, 2018

Prakash, a Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) leader and husband of Zila Panchayat former president was murdered by unidentified assailants while he was travelling in his car in Maddur.

The incident took place in broad daylight. Assailants opened the car doors and carried out the act of brutality in front of onlookers. Prakash (50) was in his car on Mysuru Road in Mandya when he was assailed by four bike-born assailants.

The men opened his back door and hacked his neck and arms, leaving him lying in a puddle of his own blood. He was rushed to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) where he succumbed to his injuries.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has taken cognizance of the matter and has ordered an inquiry. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has expressed shock over the killing his party leader.

‘Prakash, who was murdered, was a party loyalist. I have instructed the police to take all necessary measures to ensure that such incidents are not recurring.,’ Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said in a statement issued by his office.

With inputs from ANI