12 Sri Ram Sene Activists Face Charges For Rifle Training In Karnataka

During the last week of December 2024, Sri Ram Sene (SRS) organised a week-long 'personality development programme of which the rifle training was a component. 

According to police, the rifle training was conducted on the final day of the event in a farmer's field.

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Karnataka police have registered a case against 12 Sri Ram Sene (SRS) activists for allegedly organising rifle training in Todalabagi village. During the last week of December 2024, The SRS organised a week-long 'personality development programme of which the rifle training was a component. 

According to police, the rifle training was conducted on the final day of the event in a farmer's field. The farmer, unaware of the rifle training component, had permitted the use of his land for the programme. Around 196 youth reportedly participated in the training.

The incident came to light after a Bengaluru-based NGO, All India Association for Justice, filed a complaint with the police. The NGO claimed they came to know about the activity after a video of the training surfaced on social media. Further, the NGO also submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Director General of Police Alok Mohan demanding action.

Why is the Congress govt silent while the Hindutva extremist group Sri Ram Sene openly conducts training with air guns and lathis in #Jamkhandi, Bagalkot? Meanwhile, those showing solidarity with Palestine are being booked. This blatant double standard raises serious questions. pic.twitter.com/rdJS43meIc

— Mohammed Wajid Ahmed (@Wajid741122) January 5, 2025

 

"A case has been registered and investigation is on," Amarnath Reddy, Superintendent of Police, told reporters in Bagalkot, as per a report on PTI. Further details regarding the individuals involved and the nature of the training are yet to be revealed.

However, SRS founder Pramod Mutalik clarified that the used items were air guns and not real weapons during training programmes, as per a report on The Hindu. He stated that these annual personality development initiatives include rifle training for interested youth aged 20 to 30 years.

Mutalik emphasised that the training aims to instill values of nationalism and patriotism among participants.