In the violence that broke out in East Bengaluru late night on Tuesday, 11 August three people were killed in police firing and sixty police personnel injured, as reported by NDTV. The violence broke out over a Facebook message allegedly posted by a relative of a Congress MLA. 110 people have been arrested for violence, stone-throwing, and assault on police personnel. MLA Srinivas Murthy’s nephew, Naveen who supposedly posted the message has also been arrested.
Late night, the protestors surrounded MLA Murthy’s house and set many vehicles on fire. The police had to use lathi-charge, tear gas, and firing to disperse the crowd, which had turned quite violent.
“DG Halli and KG Halli saw violent incidents. To bring this under control, police used lathi-charge, tear gas, and firing. Police Commissioner went to the spot. Police bandobast is in place. Strict action will be taken against those offenders,” the Bengaluru police posted on Twitter.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner, Kamal Pant appealed for peace in his tweet and said that the situation is under control. While a curfew has been imposed in the violence-hit areas of DG Halli and KG Halli till tomorrow morning, large gatherings have been banned in the rest of Bengaluru city.
With regard to incidents in DJ Halli, accused Naveen arrested for posting derogatory posts.. also total 110 accused arrested for arson, stone pelting and assault on police. APPEAL TO ALL TO COOPERATE WITH POLICE TO MAINTAIN PEACE.
— CP Bengaluru ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು (@CPBlr) August 11, 2020
In the damage done to property, 24 four-wheelers were set on fire along with 200 bikes kept at a police station. A police station was also damaged in the violence.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has condemned the attack and assured that strict action will be taken against the perpetrators of the violence. “The attack on journalists, the police, and the public in the riot last night is unpredictable. The government will not tolerate such provocations and rumors. Strict action against perpetrators is certain. I appeal to people to act restraint without being charged”, said Yediyurappa’s tweet.
Along with Yediyurappa, many other political leaders like Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah condemned the attack. Senior Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao also appealed people not to take thelaw into their hands.
“Horrible situation in Pulakeshinagar after the attack on our MLA @AkhandaSrinivas house and the Kaval Byrsandra Police satiation. Whatever the provocation nobody can take law into their own hands and destroy public property,” he said on Twitter. “I urge all the people to maintain calm and the govt to handle this delicate situation firmly but surely and not play politics. I also see a conspiracy in the way the Facebook post has been put out & looks to have been done to incite disturbance,” he said further.
