Pinarayi reaches Mangalore amid Sangh Parivar threats

Mangaluru: Amid SanghParivar organisation's threat, Kerala Chief Minister PinarayiVijayan reached here. Karnataka government has beefed up security in the city for the CM’s visit.

Pinarayi will take part in various programmes before inaugurating 'KaravalliSouhrda Rally' (Harmony Rally) in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, SanghParivar has withdrawn from their decision to block Pinarayi Vijayan.

However, a strike called by SanghParivar to protest against Pinarayi's visit is going on in the district. Police has imposed curfew in Mangaluru Commissionerate limits from 6 pm on February 24 extending up to 6 am on February 26 to restrict hartal and other processions. Programmes which are attended by PinarayiVijayan are exempted from the curfew.

Private shops and commercial establishments were mostly shut here and in other parts.

Four buses, including one from Kerala, were stoned in different places, police said.

Pinarayi Vijayan came by train and was received by CPI-M Dakshina Kannada district leaders at the central railway station.

He was accompanied by CPI-M Karnataka state secretary Srirama Reddy and Kasaragod MP P Karunakaran.

BJP has alleged that Vijayan was the "mastermind" behind the crimes against its workers in Kerala, especially in Kannur district and had been opposing his visit, but Vijayan had ignored the protests and declared he would come here.

Around 2,000 police personnel in addition to Karnataka State Reserve police are on security duty.

Police said they have also issued notices to 44 persons who have called the bandh as per section 107 of IPC (Abetment of an illegal act engaging others) since Supreme Court had given clear directives that none can organise a bandh.

District In-charge Minister B Ramanath Rai told reporters that stringent action would be taken against those who disrupted communal harmony and created unrest in the district during the visit of the Kerala Chief Minister.

The right wing outfits' call for bandh was undemocratic, he said.

Ahead of Vijayan's visit, publicity material and furniture at CPI(M) Ullal unit office in Dakshina Kannada district were set afire by unidentified persons on Wednesday night.

BJP has alleged the CPI(M) heading the ruling LDF in Kerala was behind the killing of members of parties that held different political views and Vijayan was responsible for the current "volatile political situation" in that state.