The Udupi police have arrested a Congress worker for allegedly posting an image depicting Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar as beheaded on social media, along with an inflammatory Kannada song.

The police identified the accused as Prasad Shetty.

In a statement, the police said the complainant, Vignesh Prasad Rao, noticed on Saturday a video on the Facebook account of Prasad Shetty depicting the MLA as beheaded. Shetty is heard in the video calling for the MLA to be beheaded, followed by the Kannada film song “Hodi Maga Hodi Maga Bidabeda Avna” (Hit him, hit him, do not leave him). Mr. Rao sought action against Shetty for allegedly posting an inflammatory video calling for the MLA’s murder. The Karkala Rural police registered a case under Sections 55 (abetment of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life), 192 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause a riot), 351(3) (criminal intimidation by threatening to cause death or grievous injury) and 353(1)(c) (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

After collecting evidence that Shetty had posted the video, the police arrested him. He will be produced before the jurisdictional court, the police said.

Congress workers had called for laying siege to the Karkala Rural police station to protest against Shetty’s arrest. The protest was called off after the police pointed to Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s statement that action would be taken against those involved in such acts.