Karnataka Police on 13 April 2025 arrested former Davangere municipal corporator and Congress member Ahammad Kabir Khan for allegedly inciting violence over the recently amended Waqf Act. The arrest follows the circulation of a viral video in which Khan purportedly urged Muslims to engage in violent protests, including arson and attacks on public property, in opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
The video, which surfaced online on 8 April 2025, shows Khan delivering a provocative speech, dismissing peaceful demonstrations as ineffective and calling instead for “sacrifice” and “destruction” to make their voices heard. He reportedly said, “Let 8–10 die in every town,” and called for burning buses and trains as a form of protest.
In the two-minute clip, recorded at an undisclosed location, Khan criticised conventional protest methods such as submitting petitions and holding placards. Instead, he advocated for aggressive action, claiming that violent resistance was the only effective way to challenge the amended law.
“Let 8–10 die in every town” – Congress leader Kabir Khan arrested for inciting riots over the Waqf Act. Karnataka Police nabbed him in Ajmer after he went underground. pic.twitter.com/kKxdysVphr
— OpIndia.com (@OpIndia_com) April 15, 2025
He also suggested that such actions should be strategically planned rather than spontaneous, stating, “Heads must be broken, and everything must be destroyed. Do whatever you must, the Waqf will stand with you.”
Following the backlash, Khan went into hiding and switched off his phone. Police launched a manhunt and arrested him on April 14. He has since been remanded to judicial custody.
The FIR, accessed by OpIndia, was filed on 8 April 2025 at Azad Nagar Police Station, based on a complaint by police constable Venkatesha. It includes charges under Sections 3(5), 352, 353(1)(b), 353(1)(c), 353(2), and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The complaint alleges that Khan incited violence, encouraged mass destruction, and openly called for public disorder in response to the Waqf Amendment. He also allegedly urged people not to wait for leadership, claiming, “There are no real leaders left,” and suggested that bloodshed was the only means of reversing the legislation.
In response to the video, the Davangere police issued a public warning, urging citizens not to circulate the video or any similar inflammatory material. Authorities stated that strict legal action would be taken against individuals found sharing or forwarding provocative content related to the Waqf Bill or other sensitive issues. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
(With inputs from OpIndia)
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