Tempers Above Danger Mark

Three murders, that too in quick succession. That was enough to shake up Dakshina Kannada, the already communally tense region in southern Karnataka. But the effect the events had on the state's ruling BJP was even more striking.

- Ajay Sukumaran

A few telling images spoke of a deep ferment, especially among the younger cadre. State unit chief Nalin Kumar Kateel, visiting the bereaved family of a BJP Yuva Morcha member who was murdered on July 26, had his car rocked violently by irate party workers. Two days later, protesting ABVP members tried to barge into home minister Araga Jnanendra's official residence. An uncommon airing of dissent in a party known for its discipline. What led up to it?

A trail of blood, and three corpses. The first murder took place on July 19 in Bellare village, some 80 km southeast of Mangaluru. Police: say Masood B., a 19-year-old, was involved in a squabble with another local named Sudhir. The latter later approached Masood, with a gang of seven, under the pretext of a compromise talk, but assaulted him grievously. Masood died in a Mangaluru hospital on July 21. All eight were arrested, but the air had become tense.