The National Investigation Agency which has taken over the probe in the Bengaluru violence case will interrogate SDPI leader Muzamil Pasha and his close associates for allegedly “instigating the mobs” that triggered the violence in Bangalore city.
According to an NIA statement, 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. The State Secretary of SDPI, Muzamil Pasha had earlier called a meeting and directed the members of PFI/SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence.
“The mob went on rampage in D J Halli, K G Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar area in Bengaluru. The mob attacked the two police stations namely D J Halli and K G Halli and vandalized the property of police stations including government and private vehicles parked in these police stations,” the statement said.
The mob had attacked the house of Congress party MLA from the Pulakeshi Nagar constituency Akhanda Srinivas Murthy and then went on to attack police stations.
It all started after the MLA’s nephew Naveen had allegedly insulted the religious sentiments of the Muslims. The violence that erupted later one was seen by many as premeditated and caused lots of damage to government and private properties.
After the riots, the BJP government in Karnataka announced that rioters who damaged public properties and vehicles in Bangalore will have to pay for the damages. The Bengaluru rioters would be made to pay for the damages and the funds are expected to be recovered from their property. This is as per the Supreme Court’s directive, the damages to public property would be recovered from the rioters.