India Tomorrow
BENGALURU, AUGUST 23—Apart from seeking recovery of the public and private properties damaged during the August 11 violence in which four persons were killed and over 400 arrested subsequently, the Karnataka government has invoked Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against 62 persons allegedly involved in the violence.
The violence had broken out after a relative of a Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy had posted a derogatory remark to Prophet Muhammad on his Facebook page. Besides attacking the house of the MLA, the mob also attacked two police stations-DJ Halli and K G Halli-and set afire several police vehicles. As many as 60 police personnel, including two IPS officers, were reported to have been injured while trying to quell the violence.
The house of the MLA’s relative was also completely destroyed by the mob. However, the Muslims formed a human chain around a temple when the mob tried to vandalise it.
Meanwhile, police sources told mediapersons that two of the 65 FIRs, in which UAPA has been invoked, are likely to be transferred to National Investigation Agency(NIA) owing to alleged “terror-link to the conspiracy behind the violence”.
Officials connected with the Bengaluru’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) told mediapersons that call data records (CDRs) of 2000 persons who had assembled at three different places of violence on August 11 evening, have revealed that 40 of these were in touch with terror modules in the Bengaluru city. However, officials said that there was no link between any of the terror modules and August 11 violence.
Meanwhile, police have interrogated Congress councillor Syed Sajida’s husband Syed Nasir. According to police, Nasir was questioned after investigations revealed that he was in touch with some of the accused in the riots case. Sajida represents Muneshwarabagar ward in Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency. CCB has also interrogated two other Congress councillors: Sampath Raj, who is also a former mayor and A R Zakir, both from Pulakeshinagar assembly constituency. The police have arrested Kaleem Pasha, husband of Congress councillor Irshad Begum from Nagawara ward.
Police also arrested several SDPI leaders, including Muzammil Pasha, for their alleged role in the riots. But SDPI leaders have denied the police allegations.
