Three key accused in the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha leader Praveen Nettar murder case have been arrested, a senior police officer said.

"Yes they have been arrested. We will share details later...," Rishikesh Bhagwan Sonwane, the superintendent of police of Dakshina Kannada rural district told PTI.

Police sources said the trio, who had allegedly hacked Nettar to death three weeks ago in Nettaru village near Bellare in Dakshina Kannada district were arrested from neighbouring Kerala.

"Those arrested persons hail from Sullya and Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district," they added.

The assailants had allegedly used a motorbike which had a Kerala registration.

The murder three weeks ago had led to communal tension in this communally sensitive district.

The Hindu right wing members had alleged that Muslim fundamentalists were behind the murder.

The victim, 32 year-old Praveen Nettar, a resident of Nettaru in Bellare in Dakshina Kannada district was heading home after closing his shop, Akshaya Poultry Farm, in the evening of July 26, when the unknown assailants hacked him to death.

As soon as he was attacked, he tried to escape and ran but he fell down after a blow on his head, police said.

Local residents immediately informed police, which rushed to the spot and took the blood soaked Nettar to the hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.

Following the incident, the BJP and many Hindu organisations staged a protest against the killing in front of the hospital where the body was kept.

Local BJP leader Muralidhar Hamsatadka said the Hindus were in shock and dismay following the brutal murder of Nettar. He appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of the district to console the bereaved family members.