Riot-hit areas resemble war zone
Charred vehicles, shards of glass from broken windows, stones lie strewn over deserted roads
Bengaluru, Aug. 12: Areas under Pulakesh-inagar assembly constituency here resembled a war zone on Wednesday, hours after an unruly mob went on a rampage torching vehicles, irked over a ‘communally sensitive’ social media post allegedly by put up by a relative of a Congress MLA.
Charred vehicles, shards of glass from broken windows, stones and bricks lie strewn over the deserted roads of the violenceaffected localities.
Earlier, three people were killed in police firing and scores of others wounded, including at least 50 policemen in the violence and arson that erupted in the city on Tuesday night and continued till the wee hours of Wednesday.
Property of Congress legislator Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy and his family members were targeted after a ‘communally sensitive’ social media post uploaded online by one of his relatives enraged a section of people.
“We were not at home when all this happened,” Jayanthi, the MLA’s sister said weeping inconsolably.
“The only solace is that my brother and his family are safe,” she said.
The violent crowd set on fire police vehicles and barged into DJ Halli police station on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday and damaged the property.
Police have arrested about 110 people on charges of rioting.
Terming the violence in the city as a ‘well-planned act,’ Karnataka Revenue Minister R. Ashoka on Wednesday said the ‘traitors,’ who perpetrated the riots would be dealt with an iron hand and steps would be taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Murthy at Vidhana Soudha here, Ashoka said, “The manner in which the riots were perpetrated shows that it was a well-planned act and was intended to spread to other parts of the city. These are traitors and we will subdue them.”
The Minister said the lawmaker’s house was completely damaged and belongings including, sarees and jewels were looted while the rest was set on fire.
“It is clear from the intensity of vandalism that the intention was to attack and finish off Srinivasa Murthy.
It has to be investigated whether any anti-social elements from within the state and outside were involved,” Ashoka said.
Claiming that the violence was planned to terrorise the people of Bengaluru, Ashoka said government will send across a strong message so that no one would ever dare to take law into their hands again.
He also said he met the Chief Minister and apprised him of the ground situation.
The Minister added that steps would be taken to rein in anti-social elements as vandalism was carried out in a manner that communities were identified to target them.
“Whether Popular Front or SDPI is behind it, we will not bother. These people must be arrested. We will hunt them wherever they are holed up,”
Ashoka said.
Addressing the media after meeting the minister, Murthy said he wanted the government to provide him protection.
“We were not at home when nearly 3,000 people
with petrol bombs, clubs, came and burnt the vehicles, damaged our house. I need protection from the government after this incident,” a visibly shaken MLA said.
He said for the past 25
years he has been living with the Muslim brethren but never faced such a problem.
He demanded a CBI or CID inquiry into the matter to bring out the facts.
Asked about his relative
Naveen, whose alleged social media post sparked violence, Murthy said, “Naveen is not my relative. For the past 10 years we have not been in touch with him.”
The manner in which the riots were perpetrated shows that it was a well-planned act and was intended to spread to other parts of the city. These are traitors and we will subdue them —R. ASHOKA, Karnataka Revenue Minister