The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a press release issued on December 21 stated that 17 persons belonging to the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) have been arrested in connection with the Bengaluru violence that rocked the city on August 11, 2020.
SDPI members namely: President of SDPI Bengaluru District Mohammad Shareiff, President of KG Halli ward Imran Ahmed, and other senior leaders of the party like Rubah Waqas, Shabbar Khan and Shaik Ajmal had conducted meetings at Thanissandra and KG Halli wards in Bengaluru on the evening of August 11.
“…they conspired, mobilized, and led the crowd gathered at KG Halli Police Station to attack the police personnel, causing huge damage to the public and police station vehicles.”, the press release read.
The statement also said that SDPI President of Nagwara ward Abbas had mobilized large crowd at KG Halli police station through his associates Azil Pasha, Irfan Khan and Akbar Khan.
The NIA said that its investigations had revealed the extensive use of social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp groups to mobilize people from far off places, assemble at KG Halli police station and spread terror.
So far, 187 accused have been arrested and further investigations are continuing.
On 11 August 2020, at around 08:00 PM, more than 1000 people gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Shri Naveen Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar constituency) at Kavalbyrasandra, Bengaluru City. The mob was protesting against the derogatory social media (Facebook) post about Prophet Mohammed made on 11.08.2020 at around 4 pm by Shri Naveen, nephew of the MLA allegedly insulting the religious sentiments of the Muslims.