H Prakash was a leader of the ruling JDS party in Karnataka. On Monday, around 4.30 pm, he was hacked to death by four unidentified men in Mandya. As per reports, one of the killers was out on bail only recently. He is believed to have killed Prakash due to an old rivalry.

Hours after Prakash's murder, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy was caught on a camera ordering extra-judicial killing of the murderers. "Kill them mercilessly. It won't be a problem," HDK is heard saying.

'He (murdered JDS leader Prakash) was a good man, I don't know why did they murder him. Kill them (assailants) mercilessly in a shootout, no problem," a news agency has quoted HDK as saying.

When the video clip was circulated in the media, the CM defended himself by saying that he didn't mean it. "It was only an emotional outburst," HDK said.