: Dakshina Kannada district police arrested two persons here on Thursday in connection with the murder of Harish Poojary and attempt on the life of Samiullah in Bantwal police station limits recently. The two friends were attacked after they had stopped over to have a soft drink after a game of cricket on Nov 12.Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, inspector general of police (western range) Amrit Paul said, “Following the murder, three teams under the leadership of superintendent of police Sharanappa S Dhage were constituted, which nabbed rowdy-sheeter Bhuvith Shetty, 25, son of Sanjeev Shetty and Achuth, 28, son of Sheshappa Poojary. Three other accused are yet to be arrested.”Terming the incident as a ‘case of mistaken identity’, Paul said, "They wanted to kill someone and went ahead with just that motive. They targeted Samiullah and assumed that the person who travelled pillion with him was also from the same community. It was an act of pervert minds."Incidentally, this is not the first case that Bhuvith Shetty is accused in. Following the murder of rationalist Prof MM Kalburgi on Aug 30, Dakshina Kannada district police had arrested Bhuvith Shetty for a controversial tweet he had made only a few hours after the murder. Shetty on his Twitter handle @Garuda Purana on which he was active last on Nov 11, threatened KS Bhagwan by posting a tweet at 10.41 am the day the rationalist was murdered that read: "Then it was UR Anantamoorty and now it is MM Kalburgi. Mock Hinduism and die a dogs death. And dear KS Bhagwan you are next.”Bhuvith Shetty, who claims to be a co-convener of Bajrang Dal, is alleged to have earlier tweeted: "You should know that, I myself chopped off one Muslim’s hand for smuggling cows in Kalladka."A commerce graduate, Bhuvith Shetty, who is keen on photography, completed his primary and higher education from a private school in Kalladka. He was instrumental in the launch of an online campaign demanding justice forSowjanya, a 17-year-old girl who was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Dharmasthala on Oct 9, 2012.His last tweet on Nov 11, read: "Meet Pro-Kannada activist Ashwathanarayana who returned his award condemning Girish Karnad's comments on Kempegowda."On Facebook on Nov 15, his status read: "On this day Nathuram Godse and Apte were hanged. Tomorrow someone else will be jailed up for the crime they haven't done. Life is an illusion.”"The district police were in the process of booking him under the Goonda Act, but even before they could do it, he got involved in this case. Other than the Twitter case, he has three other cases against him for criminal intimidation and attempt to murder, while Achuth, who also allegedly belongs to a Hindu outfit, has two cases against him including attempt to murder and criminal intimidation,” added IGP Paul. The police will go ahead with the process of booking Bhuvith Shetty under Goonda Act. The duo will be presented before Bantwal court, while the police have zeroed in on the three other miscreants.It may be recalled that following the Tipu Jayanti celebrations on Nov 12, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) organised a programme to condemn the violence reported at Madikeri. Since it had not obtained permission to use a public address system nor to hold the protest, 50-75 people from the organisation had gathered before the tahsildar's office in Bantwal. When SDPI leader Haneef Khan Kodaje allegedly made provocative remarks, miscreants from a nearby building pelted stones at the crowd.In retaliation, the SDPI workers are also accused to have pelted stones. Police immediately rushed to the spot, and were forced to lathi-charge the warring crowds. The tense situation was immediately brought under control. In this connection, a case was registered against Kodaje for making a provocative speech and cases were filed against both groups.However, the same night at about 7.30 pm, police had to rush to Halegate in Bantwal police station limits on receiving information that some youth had been stabbed. On inquiry, it turned out that five miscreants had attempted to murder the duo. Harish Poojary succumbed to injuries he suffered in the attack while being taken to hospital, and Samiullah, who was also stabbed by the five, survived. Following the murder of Harish Poojary, several Hindu outfits called for a district bandh the next day, Nov 13. Nearly 4,000 people had participated in the funeral ceremony of Harish Poojary.While the government has released `5 lakh for the family of Harish Poojary, the district health department has come forward to fund the medical treatment of his father suffering from cancer. Many other organisations have come forward to help the poor family. The family of Prashanth Poojary has also made financial assistance to Harish Poojary's family. Prashanth Poojary was recently murdered in Moodabidri.A few other incidents of communal violence were reported in the area on the same day. Mohammud Harris was assaulted with lethal weapons in Uppinangady police station limits and Abdul Rahman was assaulted in Kokkada police station limits. Three people were arrested over the two cases. Another 13 people were arrested at Savanoor in Kadaba police station limits.Video evidence assists Superintendent of police Sharanappa S Dhage disclosed that 29 people were arrested in five untoward cases and sent to Bellary jail. “Most of the cases have video evidence and hence it is certain that we will not touch innocents.” he said. Peace has prevailed in the district over the last three days but additional forces have been retained.