Honnavar: Tension gripped Honnavar town on Friday after the body of a 21-year-old youth, who had been missing after Wednesday’s clashes, was found floating in a lake.

The deceased has been identified as Paresh Mesta of Honnavar. His body was found in Shetty lake behind Shani temple and a passer-by who noticed the body informed the police, sources said.

The police said it was not clear whether it was a murder or a suicide.

As the news of the death spread, there was a massive deployment of police to ensure that violence did not flare up. Vehicular movement was restricted within the town.

Hundreds of people thronged Honnavar town and took out a procession with the body of Mesta.

Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde, who joined the procession, said the state government has been appeasing minorities by neglecting the majority community. He demanded the arrest of those responsible for the death of Mesta. He said: “Including Paresh, 20 Hindu people have been murdered in the state.”

Demanding a CBI probe into the murders in the state, he said the state government should act responsibility. “If the state government fails to do so, then central agencies will investigate all the cases in the state,” he said.

BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje, who was in Udupi for a party function, visited the house of Mesta and demanded the arrest of the culprits.

Former minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, local BJP leaders Shivanand Naik and J D Naik and others took part in the procession.