Goa Police finds questioning Muthalik 'awkward'

Panaji, May 26 (IANS) Questioning Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik for his allegedly inflammatory comments made some months back could be "awkward", Goa Director General of Police T.N. Mohan said Monday.

Mohan's statement comes at a time when the Goa Police have been accused of launching a "witch-hunt" against 31-year-old shipbuilding professional Devu Chodankar for posting anti-Narendra Modi comments on Facebook.

In light of Chodankar's case when IANS asked Mohan if the police would consider filing a First Information Report (FIR) against Muthalik for his controversial comments, which went viral on social networking site YouTube earlier this month, the DGP said he was told the video was a year old.

"It would be awkward for us to approach it after a year," Mohan said.

In a Youtube video uploaded a month back, it was announced the Sri Rama Sene would distribute a sword and the (Bhagwad) Gita to every Hindu home.

In the video, Muthalik says that the sword should be used for defence, but also adds that if someone questions a Hindu about a sword in his house then the weapon should be put to use.

Mohan further said the police had not received any complaint against Muthalik for his alleged comments, unlike in the case involving Chodankar.

"We had only heard of a report about Muthalik's comments...In case of Chodankar we have a private complaint on the basis of which we have acted," Mohan said.

The urgency of the police in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Goa to arrest Chodankar has led to an uproar on social media as well as among the opposition parties, who have alleged a witch-hunt against the Facebook user.

"The BJP government is only harassing a common man like Devu going all out after him. Comments made by people like Muthalik are ignored," claimed Independent MLA Vijai Sardesai, who along with a delegation of protesters met Mohan Monday.