The chief of a local fringe right wing outfit was detained on Thursday by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in connection with the murder of progressive Kannada scholar and researcher Prof MM Kalburgi at Dharwad on August 30, police said.

Prasad Attavar, head of Rama Sene, who had been detained for interrogation, has been handed over to Bunder police station, police said, as they remained clueless on the killers of Kalburgi even four days after the brutal murder.

A few messages related to Kalburgi were being circulated in the social media carrying Attavar’s photo and police wanted to make sure whether they were posted by him or his photo was used to spread the messages.

Attavar, who was a member of Sri Rama Sene led by Pramod Muthalik till 2009, had later left the outfit and formed the Rama Sene.

Sri Ram Sene had gained notoriety for moral policing in Dakshina Kannada district. Attack on some young men and women at a pub here in January 2009 alleging “immoral activities” was blamed on the outfit.

Bantwal police had on August 31 arrested Bhuvith Shetty, the co-convenor of the Bajrang Dal unit there for posting a tweet justifying the murder of Kalburgi and warning that scholar K S Bhagwan, another rationalist free-thinker, would be their next target.

Shetty, who later withdrew his remarks from Twitter, was released on bail.

Kalburgi was shot dead at his residence in Dharwad by unidentified assailants, an incident which had evoked nationwide protest. Police had released sketches of the suspects.

Karnataka government has decided to hand over the case to CBI for probe. The state CID would investigate till the central agency takes over the case.

Sheena Bora-Indrani Mukerjea high-profile case has become a talk of the town. But, what many have failed to realise is the wrong imprints it’s leaving on the psyche of innocent children who are exposed to such news daily.

Recently, a 7th standard boy in Delhi’s private school was caught passing a note to his classmates which read: “I am an illegitimate child. My mother is like Indrani Mukerjea. She likes having sex with many men.” as per various reports.

When the teachers caught hold of the note, they were shocked and bewildered.

Later, the matter was taken up with the principal who summoned the boy’s parents and held discussion with them. The child was then suspended and is now undergoing counseling.

Whenever a new detail emerges in Sheena Bora murder mystery, the case gets murkier. Moreover, every news channel and newspaper is giving events by events coverage to the case. What makes it more disturbing is the fact that Indrani’s background and her past relationships are being given more importance over the case proceedings.

As every school advices its students to make newspaper reading a daily habit, it is hard to ignore such content. The children who are exposed to such news do not have the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

As the talks between government and military veterans over the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme continue, representatives of the veterans on Thursday said that they are asking for their ‘right’ and it shouldn’t be described as a bonanza or demand.

Addressing the media at Jantar Mantar, the protesting ex-servicemen said they wanted periodic revision of pension.

“We are not asking for any three percent increment. There is no such thing as increment,” Captain Kaul said.

“What we have asked for is a periodic review of pension so that at no stage the definition of OROP as accepted by parliament is violated even by a letter.”

The veterans stated that the date for implementation for OROP should be April 2014.

They further accused the government of not sticking to its stand.

Group Capt (Retd) VK Gandhi said that not a single government representative has come forward and assured a single aspect that would be implemented. They accused the government of frequently changing its stand on the contentious issue.

Captain Kaul said varying figures of supposed government expenditure were being floated “by people who do not know what they are talking about”.

The veterans also rejected the reports that they have demanded yearly or monthly increments.

While implementing the pension scheme, the government should ensure that a junior officer doesn’t get more pension than his senior, the veterans noted.

Thursday is the 81st day of protest by ex-sevicemen in the national capital. Thirteen retired soldiers are on indefinite hunger strike. Relay hunger strikes are taking place in some 60 towns and cities.

There are around 24 lakh ex-servicemen in India and around 6.5 lakh widows who will benefit if OROP is implemented.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had on Monday had virtually ruled out annual revision of pension as demanded by agitating ex-servicemen under OROP but said the government will safeguard interests of soldiers retiring at an early age through higher pensions.

OROP scheme has been a long-standing demand of nearly three-million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement.

In the wake of heightened tensions and cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistani troops along the LoC recently, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday said his country was ready for a short or long conflict.

Asif went on to add that Pakistan will inflict heavy losses on India in case “war hysteria” overcomes Indian leadership.

His remarks came in reaction to the statement by Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh that India is prepared for “swift and short” wars in the future.

Participating in a Radio Pakistan programme, Asif said Pakistan believes in peace but knows how to respond to any aggression.

“We want peace but will inflict heavy losses on India if war hysteria overcame its leadership,” he said.

Commenting on Indian Army Chief’s remarks, he said, “Pakistan is fully prepared to give a befitting response if India imposed short or prolonged war.”

Talking about previous wars, he said Pakistan armed forces “foiled designs” of Indian forces in 1965.

“Our forces crushed the Indian dreams of occupying Lahore back in 1965 and will do the same in future,” he said.

The Defence Minister also said the Pakistani Army was now more experienced and professional than 50 years ago.

“Our forces are engaged in the war against terror for several years and they know how to respond to any challenge,” he said.

Asif, however, said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif believes in peace.