Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah

Key Highlights The exchange of abusive messages on WhatsApp group against the Chief Minister went on for couple of hours

Confirming the incident, an official from Lingasugur police station said the two youths abused the CM in local language

BENGALURU: Ever since Rakesh Siddaramaiah's demise at Belgium, a number of abusive messages are being circulated in social media as well as on WhatsApp group. For those who take amusement out of such pastimes, here is a note of warning. In an incident reported from Raichur district, the police have launched a manhunt for two youths who abused the CM and his family on a social messaging group. Both the youths are absconding.

Naveen Kumar (25) ­ resident of Santhekallur village ­ is the main accused in the incident. On July 31 at around 5 pm, after watching the news of death of Rakesh Siddaramaiah ­ son of chief minister Siddaramaiah, Naveen blatantly started texting in the local whatsApp group in an unsympathetic manner. Following Naveen's message Sharanbasava (25) ­ resident of Lingasugur (Raichur district), who was also in the group joined the fray, adding his own unsavoury comments. The exchange of abusive messages between Naveen and Sharanbasava against the Chief Minister went on for couple of hours. Irked after reading the messages, one of the members Gadyappa Gowda (24) went to the police station and complained against the duo.

Confirming the incident, an official from Lingasugur police station said, “Two youths abused the CM in local language and hence we received a complaint about it from one of the members.It's a community issue and hence we have registered a case against both Naveen and Sharana. They both are absconding since July 31 night and we are trying to trace them. We have received information of their movement to a nearby village and hence a group of officers has been sent to the spot to take them into the custody. We will interrogate them and produce them in court.“

The case has been registered under section 153(a) (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC.

