Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Mutalik
In a significant development, Karnataka police have initiated legal action against 12 members of the Sri Ram Sena (SRS) for allegedly conducting rifle training in Bagalkot. This incident occurred during the final stages of a week-long personality development program held in Todalabagi village.
Reports indicate that 196 young participants engaged in rifle training at a local farmer’s field as part of the program. The case was launched following a complaint from a Bengaluru-based NGO, which called for an investigation after a video of the training surfaced on social media.
Local authorities have stated that the farmer, who owns the land where the training took place, was unaware of any rifle training as part of the event. “A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway,” confirmed Superintendent of Police Amarnath Reddy on January 9.
In response to the allegations, Pramod Mutalik, the founder of SRS, asserted that air guns were utilized for the training, denying the use of real firearms. “Each year, we organize personality development programs that feature rifle training aimed at fostering nationalism and patriotism among youth aged 20-30,” he stated.
Published – January 10, 2025 10:44 am IST
