Bengaluru, April 2 : Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Saturday officially confirmed the handing over of Harsha murder case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). After an in-depth investigation by Karnataka police, the state government said it was appropriate to hand over the case to NIA. “During investigation, we found that Harsha was murdered with an objective to foment communal violence. We also ascertained the background of the accused. Therefore, we felt it appropriate to hand over the case to the NIA,” he told reporters here. Shivamogga SP Lakshmi Prasad said the district police have submitted all the documents to the Central investigation agency and they were cooperating with them. A day after Harsha’s death, on Minister Shobha Karandlaje had shot off a letter to Bommai, raising questions about the Popular Front of India’s (PFI’s) role and had demanded a NIA probe. Several on Ministers had also urged the Centre to probe the matter. Harsha, a pro-Hindu activist, was murdered by a Muslim gang in Shivamogga on February 20, triggering violence in the district. Subsequently, curfew was imposed in the district for the past eight days. So far, police have arrested 10 persons in connection with the case and invoked the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against them. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said Harsha’s case is more than a murder. The state government has given Rs 25 lakh compensation to the family. BDN RJ