Right wing group seeks withdrawl of ban on Muthalik from

A right wing organisation today urged the Goa administration to lift the ban imposed on Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik from entering the state.

The demand came in view of Muthalik's acquittal in the 2009 Mangaluru pub attack case.

The Goa government has prohibited Muthalik and his associates from entering the state since 2014, based on a report by the police which fears law and order problem in the state with his presence.

On March 12, a court had acquitted Muthalik, the chief of right wing fringe outfit Sri Ram Sene, and several others in the 2009 Mangaluru pub attack case for lack of evidence.

In the wake of the court order, activists of Goa unit of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) today met North Goa's Additional District Collector Vikas Gaunekar and submitted a memorandum, demanding withdrawl of the ban on Muthalik and activists of his organisation.

There has not been a single incident of Muthalik or any member of Sri Ram Sene disturbing the communal harmony or creating law and order problem in Goa, the memorandum claimed.

The Goa government should take note of the court order acquitting Muthalik and remove this "unjust" ban on him and other members of his organisation, it said.

Notably, the HJS earlier used to invite Muthalik for its annual convention in the state.

When contacted, Gaunekar said he has received the memorandum and that appropriate action would be taken after consulting experts.