Violence broke out in Pulakeshinagar after an angry mob who were disrupted over a derogatory post uploaded on social media insulting Prophet Mohammed by a relative of MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy on Tuesday night went on a rampage.
The mob gathered outside the MLA’s house and burnt down the vehicles parked outside his house in Kaval Byrasandra. The post is said to have triggered communal violence in East Bengaluru.
According to police, a crowd of almost a thousand people gathered in front of the KG Halli police station demanding that the relative named Naveen be arrested. Hundreds also gathered outside the MLA’s house and protested. Vehicles parked outside the MLA’s house were torched. According to reports, the protesters did not allow fire engines to enter the street and to douse the fire.
MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy requests the mob not to act violently and let the law take its course against those miscreants who are behind the act.
One person reportedly has been shot dead in police firing and three injured.
#violence #kghalli #bangalore pic.twitter.com/KBnLhsGUv1
— The Second Angle (@TheSecondAngle) August 11, 2020
Meanwhile, another group arrived at KG Halli police station to file a complaint but alleged that the police refused to file a complaint immediately. The situation quickly escalated after an under-construction house of the MLA adjoining to current residence was damaged around 8.30 pm. Around 25 minutes later, a much larger mob gathered outside the KG Halli police station and started raising slogans, pelting stones and even torching vehicles. DCP East Bhimashankar Guled’s official car too was attacked with stones and sticks. At DJ Halli, a police vehicle was set ablaze.
By 10.30 pm, reinforcement of police personnel from adjoining police stations arrived in two buses. Shots are being fired by the police in an attempt to disperse the crowd. The police force outside the police station has been unable to make their way through the crowd and enter the station. Eyewitnesses claim that for at least an initial 10 minutes, the police either remained mute spectators or used very little force to handle the crowd even as the violence escalated. Even post-midnight, the police force has been largely outnumbered, cornered outside the KG Halli police station.
Along with police in riot gear who were deployed to contain the violence, senior police officers including Commissioner Kamal Pant visited the spot. An official police car too was attacked and damaged, as per eyewitnesses.
Reportedly, the MLA’s relative who was detained by the police for questioning claimed that his Facebook account was hacked and it was not he who actually posted the offensive message.
Media persons from Kannada news channel Suvarna News too were allegedly attacked by an angry mob while reporting live on the violence. Reporters Ravi and Pradeep have sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the time of writing. Their cameras were reportedly smashed to stop them from covering the incident.
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai released a video with an appeal for peace. “Whatever the issue is, we will investigate it, but vandalism is not the solution. We have deployed additional forces. I have given cops a free hand to handle the situation. However powerful the guilty are, we will take action. But people must not take the law into their hands.”
Meanwhile, MLA Srinivas Murthy has sent out a video message appealing for calm. “Hello, this is Srinivas Murthy from Pulikeshi Nagar. I request our Muslim friends, for the mistake of some miscreants, let’s not fight. Whatever the fight, we’re brothers. Whoever has made a mistake, let’s teach them a lesson through legal means. We will also stand with you. Whoever has made the mistake, we will take steps to teach them a lesson. I request our Muslim kin to please remain peaceful. I will also stand with you.
MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy requests the mob not to act violently and let the law take its course against those miscreants who are behind the act. pic.twitter.com/oUA2FubTun
— Bangalore Mirror (@BangaloreMirror) August 11, 2020
The Week reported that Congress Chamrajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan arrived at the DJ Halli police station and wanted the MLA’s kin arrested.
Horrible situation in Pulakeshinagar after the attack on our MLA @AkhandaSrinivas house and the Kaval Byrsandra Polcie satiation.
Whatever the provocation nobody can take law into their own hands and destroy public property.
Loading...First priority is to bring things under control.
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) August 11, 2020
“The community is furious and the situation is going out of control. I am at the police station along with religious leaders of our community to file the complaint. We will stage a protest tomorrow,” said Zameer Ahmed.
Mufti PM Muzammil Sab of Jamiat Ulema I Hind appeals for peace after violence erupted over a controversial SM post pic.twitter.com/FqVf7Xu8bx
— Soumya Chatterjee (@Csoumya21) August 11, 2020
Update:
Members of Sadbhavna Youth Social Welfare Association & people linked to Bilal & other mosques lodge a complaint at DJ Halli Police Station in Bengaluru against Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy’s nephew over an inciting social media post shared by him.
Karnataka: Members of Sadbhavna Youth Social Welfare Association & people linked to Bilal & other mosques lodge a complaint at DJ Halli Police Station in Bengaluru against Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy's nephew over an inciting social media post shared by him. #bangaloreriots pic.twitter.com/0VvXfplfmO
— The Second Angle (@TheSecondAngle) August 11, 2020
Update:
Around 60 police personnel including an Additional Commissioner of Police injured in clashes that broke out over an alleged inciting social media post, in DJ Halli & KG Halli police station areas of Bengaluru, Karnataka: Police Commissioner Kamal Pant
Around 60 police personnel including an Additional Commissioner of Police injured in clashes that broke out over an alleged inciting social media post, in DJ Halli & KG Halli police station areas of Bengaluru, Karnataka: Police Commissioner Kamal Pant #bangaloreriots pic.twitter.com/EzPxyIV4TD
— The Second Angle (@TheSecondAngle) August 11, 2020
Update:
Two people died in police firing, one injured shifted to a hospital. Restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC imposed in Bengaluru & curfew imposed in DJ Halli & KG Halli police station limits of the city: Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant
Two people died in police firing, one injured shifted to a hospital. Restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC imposed in Bengaluru & curfew imposed in DJ Halli & KG Halli police station limits of the city: Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant#bangaloreriots
— The Second Angle (@TheSecondAngle) August 11, 2020
Update:
30 people have been arrested in connection with the violence that broke out over an alleged inciting social media post, in Bengaluru. More arrests are being made: Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bengaluru
30 people have been arrested in connection with the violence that broke out over an alleged inciting social media post, in Bengaluru. More arrests are being made: Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bengaluru (file photo)#Karnataka #bangaloreriots pic.twitter.com/gURui18d9E
— The Second Angle (@TheSecondAngle) August 11, 2020