Hindu activists facing human rights violations: Forum

MANGALURU

A delegation from the United Forum of All Hindu Organisations met the Deputy Commissioner and Inspector General of Police (IGP), Western Range, on Thursday, raising serious concerns over alleged human rights violations by the Dakshina Kannada police.

According to the forum, police have been targeting Hindu activists in the name of maintaining communal harmony, conducting late-night house visits, photographing individuals without consent, and collecting GPS data from residences. Sri Vidyasaraswati Swamiji, President of Bharat Sant Samiti (Karnataka region), claimed these actions created a climate of fear, violating citizens' rights to privacy and dignity.

He said that even elderly daily-wage earners with no links to activism were being subjected to midnight questioning and harassment. “This is not law enforcement—it’s intimidation,” the Swamiji said, demanding a high-level probe into the actions of senior police officers.

The forum’s memorandum called for compensation and written apologies for affected individuals, as well as immediate protection for Hindu functionaries allegedly facing death threats. They also demanded strict legal action against those responsible for recent violence, media attacks, and stone-pelting incidents during the funeral procession of Abdul Rehman.

The forum further alleged that banned organisation PFI’s former members continue to operate under different banners and were involved in the murder of Suhas Shetty. It urged the government to impose a more stringent ban on PFI and take firm legal action against those still active.