Paresh Mesta’s father says son not associated with any group while Karnataka BJP maintains he was their karyakarta

Amidst the ongoing controversy over the alleged killing of Paresh Mesta, Kamalakar Mesta, his father said, "I don't know who killed my son. They are saying minority people killed. My son was not associated with any party or group. We are Hindus but not associated with any group."

18-year-old Paresh Mesta' s dead body was found in a lake in his village Honnavar in Uttar Kannada district on December 8 after which the situation became volatile in the area.

Since December 8, senior BJP leader and Member of Parliament Shobha Karandalaje representing the Udupi-Chickmagalur constituency has been asserting that Paresh Mesta was a BJP worker. 

Shobha had tweeted that Paresh Mesta was a BJP karyakarta who was killed by ‘Jihadis.’

Shobha alleged that activists of Popular Front of India (PFI) tortured and murdered Paresh and Karnataka's Congress government is trying to protect the accused because they belong to the minority community. 

While addressing media on Wednesday Shobha said, "We will meet union home minister Rajanath Singh on December 15 and appeal him to give this case to NIA for investigation. We will also protest in Honnavar on 18th."

Our young Karyakarta Paresh Mesta is killed by Jihadis in Honnavara.My heartfelt condolences with the family.Shame on the CM who continued with his visit in the district!!

— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) December 8, 2017

Claims made by BJP about torture and mutilating the body of Paresh had fallen flat after the forensic report released by Karnataka Police on December 11 ruled out the claims of torture.

Right-wing groups have been protesting in various parts of Uttar Kannada district since the body of Paresh was found but now the situation is limping back towards normalcy. 

Talking to News Nation, IG western range Hemant Nimbalakar said, "Situation is under control now in the entire Uttar Kannada district. We are waiting for the postmortem report then only we can ascertain the cause of death".

Meanwhile Home Minister of Karnataka Ramalinga Reddy said, “BJP is frustrated by seeing thousands of people gathering in the rallies of Chief Minister Siddharamaiah in Uttar Kannada district and that is why they are playing politics on the death of a youth and trying to polarise the people of the state.”