In a shocking incident, a BJP worker named Praveen Poojary was allegedly beaten up to death by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists after they found him transporting two cows in his vehicle.

Udupi SP KP Balakrishna confirmed to India today that 17 persons have been arrested for their involvement in the killing of Praveen Poojary.

"They attacked Poojary when he was carrying cows in a vehicle in the Hebri limits of Karkala district, " he said.

However, VHP's Gopal Kshetriya Sanghatan Mantri denied charges and issued a statement saying, "We condemn and deny false allegations attributed to VHP and Bajarang Dal by the media in connection with Praveen Poojary's murder. We urge all the public communicators to immediately refrain from spreading malafide, false, criminally defamatory and dangerous stories against VHP, Bajarang Dal, failing which we will further take legal steps as stipulated under all prevalent laws."

Meanwhile, the Bajranj Dal has also denied any role in the killing.



WHAT HAPPENED

It is believed that Praveen Poojary, along with his friend Akshay Devadiga, was found transporting cows in their tempo. On receiving the information, nearly 20 Bajrang Dal and VHP activists surrounded the vehicle and attacked the two.

BJP worker Praveen Poojary BJP worker Praveen Poojary

The attackers reportedly had sharp weapons and Praveen was killed in the assault.

Askhay has been admitted to the government hospital in Brahmavar where this incident took place.

The police are on a lookout for the attackers, who are now absconding.

MODI SLAMS GAU RAKSHAKS

There have been a number of murders in the name of cow protection in the country beginning with the lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq in Uttar Pradesh last year and later, the killing of two Muslim men in Jharkhand's Latehar.

But it was the flogging of Dalits in Gujarat over skinning of a dead cow last month that the issue escalated, forcing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lash out at cow vigilantes, saying they have set up shops in the name of 'gau raksha'.

"If you want to attack, attack me and not Dalits. If you want to shoot, shoot me and not Dalits," Modi had said earlier this month.

WATCH: 4 youths stripped, tied and hit with belts by Sena leader-led cow vigilantes

