Karnataka: Police arrest two people over murder of Bajrang Dal activist

"Two accused have been arrested and another has been detained in the Harsha murder case. Several others will also be arrested soon," Additional Deputy General of Police Pratap Reddy told reporters here.

The arrested persons were identified as Kasif and Nadeem and they have criminal background, Reddy said.

All the accused have been identified and they hail from inside and outside Shivamogga district, he said.

The statement is in contrast with the earlier statement of Home Minister Araga Jnanendra who told reporters on Monday that three people were arrested.

On Sunday night, Harsha was stabbed to death by unknown assailants and was rushed to a hospital but died on the way.

Following this, members of Hindu outfits gathered outside the Megan Hospital to denounce the murder. On February 7, Harsha had posted some content in support of the dress code which stood against hijab.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed the Congress for Harsha's murder. BJP legislator and Secretary to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Renukacharya, blamed the "provocative statements" of Congress leaders D K Shivakumar and B K Hariprasad for the killing of Harsha. He urged the Home Minister to transfer the case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Earlier, Renukacharya gave a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased.

Soon after the murder, the district administration on Monday imposed prohibitory orders for two days and declared and schools and colleges shut. Harsha's funeral procession witnessed violence. 

Minister Jnanendra suspected a link between the hijab row and Harsha's murder and said the government was investigating the Popular Front of India's role in the murder.

"There is enough evidence of the PFI carrying out attacks on Sangh leaders in the past. The police are collecting details," he said.

(With UNI inputs)