A mob rampaged through Bengaluru’s Pulakeshi Nagar on Tuesday night and vandalised a police station and a Congress legislator’s residence after an alleged relative of the MLA shared a social media post purportedly on a communal issue, police said.
Two persons died and around 60 police personnel sustained injuries during the clashes, the police said.
IMAGE: DJ Halli Police Station in Bengaluru that was vandalised by a violent mob on Tuesday night. Photograph: ANI
A large number of people gathered near MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s residence and vandalised it and damaged the vehicles parked there.
The mob then targeted the police station and damaged vehicles believing that the police had kept the accused detained there, they said.
The police teams that tried to contain the violence also bore the brunt of the mob as their vehicles were damaged, eye-witnesses said.
Police sources said a person said to be a close relative of Murthy allegedly shared a social media post that enraged members of a community.
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said riots and arson are against law and warned the rioters that he has given police a free hand to contain the violence.
Later, MLA Murthy appealed to the community members to not resort to violence.
“I am appealing to my Muslim brethren that we should not resort to violence for the fault committed by some miscreants.
“There is no need to fight. We all are brothers. We will get the person punished as per law. We will also be with you.
“I appeal to the Muslim friends to be calm,” he said in a video message.
Congress MLA and former minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan said the violence was unfortunate.
IMAGE: The mob also attacked and damaged the residence of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s residence. Photograph: ANI
‘I am hopeful that police will take action against all those who are responsible for this. I also request everyone to stay calm and maintain peace in the area,’ Khan tweeted.
After learning about the incident, the Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant had rushed to the spot but his intervention too did not stop the rioters.
Later, the Bengaluru police tweeted that it had to lathi-charged the mob, lob the tear gas and finally open fire to control them.
The police said the culprits of Tuesday’s violence and arson will not be spared.
The Bengaluru Police arrested Murthy’s nephew for sharing the ‘derogatory’ post on social media.
As many as 110 people have also been arrested in connection with the violence.
‘Accused Naveen arrested for sharing a derogatory post on social media,’ said Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant.
‘110 people have also been arrested in connection with the violence that broke out in Bengaluru over an alleged inciting social media post,’ Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Bengaluru said.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa informed that directives have been issued to take strict action against accused of violence and asserted that the government has taken all possible steps to control the situation.
While appealing people to maintain peace, he also said that violence against journalists, police and people last night was unacceptable.
‘The miscreants in the DJ Halli police station has led to the assault and rioting at MLA Akhand Srinivasa’s house and police station. Already, directives have been issued against the perpetrators and the government has taken all possible steps to curb the situation,’ he tweeted (roughly translated from Kannada).
‘The attack on journalists, the police and the public in the riot last night was unacceptable. The government will not tolerate such provocations and rumours. Strict action against perpetrators is certain. I appeal to people to maintain peace and act with restraint and without panic,’ the chief minister said in another tweeted.
— with ANI inputs
