A communal riot broke out during the Ganesh immersion procession in Nagamangala, Mandya district, in Karnataka, leading to widespread unrest and raising serious concerns about communal harmony in the region. Stones were reportedly pelted at the procession, and several shops were set ablaze. Allegations have surfaced regarding the involvement of members of the banned Kerala-based Popular Front of India (PFI) in orchestrating the violence during the Ganesh Visarjan.
Among the 74 individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR), two—Yusuf (A44) and Naseer (A61)—are residents of Malappuram, Kerala. Both are suspected of being affiliated with the PFI.
The Mandya District Police have arrested Yusuf and Nasir, basically from Malappuram, Kerala, suspected to be linked to the banned Popular Front of India in connection with attack on Ganesha Procession in Nagamangala, Mandya.
Was the attack on the Ganesha procession in… pic.twitter.com/UX38g9tvAF
— Girish Bharadwaj (@Girishvhp) September 15, 2024
It is alleged that Yusuf and Naseer had been residing in Nagamangala for several days before the procession incident, with accusations that they played a key role in planning the riots. According to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Nagamangala Taluk President Ajit Prasad, their presence in the area, along with evidence of the purchase of 200 masks from a local medical shop on the day of the riots, suggests a premeditated attack.
Prasad further stated that Kerala-based Muslims were involved in using petrol bombs during the violence and demanded that the investigation be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for a more thorough probe.
Karnataka’s Minister-in-Charge, Chaluvarayaswamy, attempted to downplay the speculation surrounding the involvement of PFI members in the Ganesh Visarjan. He stated that while a person from Kerala working in a bakery in Nagamangala was arrested for his role in the violence, there is no direct evidence linking the banned PFI to the incident. “Without a full investigation, it is premature to make any conclusions,” the minister said, calling for calm and peace while investigations proceed.
The violence escalated just half an hour after 24 District Armed Reserve (DAR) personnel, who had been deployed to guard the Ganesh procession, left for their meal break. Only seven officers were left at the scene when the mob began attacking with stones, sticks, machetes, and petrol bombs, leading to injuries among several police officers, including PSI Ravi. Many local shops were also set on fire during the chaos.
The Home Department has since suspended Inspector Ashok Kumar of Nagamangala Police Station for failing to ensure adequate security during the sensitive procession. His hesitation to provide meals to the reserve personnel and the subsequent reduction in the police presence is believed to have contributed to the outbreak of violence.
(With inputs from Organiser)
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