Soon after the attack, unidentified people set several vehicles in Shivamogga on fire.
Vehicles were set on fire and isolated incidents of stone-pelting were reported as tension spread in Karnataka's Shivamogga town over the murder of a member of right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal.
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Harsha, a 26-year-old Bajrang Dal member who worked as a tailor, was stabbed by unidentified persons around 9 pm last night. He was rushed to hospital but could not survive. Police have arrested three people in connection with the murder case.
After the attack, several vehicles in the area were set on fire and police deployed heavy force to prevent a flare-up. The administration has imposed curbs on public gatherings and ordered that schools and colleges will stay shut. Despite the curbs, a large crowd of Bajrang Dal supporters accompanied the youth's body as it was taken home.
State Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has said the probe so far has not revealed any link between the murder and the hijab controversy. "Hijab issue has nothing to do with this incident. It has happened for different reasons. Shivamogga is a sensitive city," he told the media.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai has said police have found clues during their investigation and are working on them.
However, Karnataka's Rural Development minister KS Eshwarappa has accused state Congress chief DK Shivakumar of instigating the killing with comments he made at the height of the hijab protests.
The minister described Harsha as an honest man. "Muslim goons murdered him. Recently, DK Shivakumar claimed that the national flag was replaced with saffron flag, and around 50 lakh saffron shawls were ordered from a factory in Surat for the anti-hijab protest. Goondaism increased after he made these statements," he said.
Responding to Mr Eshwarappa's remarks, Mr Shivakumar said he was a "mad man". "Siddaramaiah has said that there is no connection between his tongue and his mind. The BJP leadership should sack him," he said.
Siddaramaiah, Leader of the Opposition in Assembly, has demanded that state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra must step down over the "failure" of law and order in the state.
A police officer the NDTV spoke to has said that the attack seems to have been carried out by four people. Denying reports linking the murder to the hijab row, the officer said Harsha knew the assailants and this seems to be the result of an old rivalry.
Speaking to NDTV, Bajrang Dal state convenor Raghu Sakleshpur has said they were "not happy" with the police action in the case. "He was an active member. We will soon decide the next course of action."
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