Bengaluru violence: Families of the accused struggling to lead lives

The lives of the families of those accused in the Bengaluru violence has turned unbearable. In August 2020, a violent riot had erupted in Bangalore, after an inflammatory social media post was allegedly shared by the nephew of Pulakeshinagar MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy.

Bengaluru (Karnataka): The lives of the families of those accused in the Bengaluru violence has become difficult after they were charged under stringent sections of the law by the police. Last year, 66 people were arrested under the SC/ST Act and other strict provisions in the case related to the burning of the house of local assembly member Akhanda Srinivas Murthy (Crime No. 219) during the Bengaluru violence following an inflammatory social media post. Although the accused former Corporator AR Zakir and former Bengaluru mayor R Sampath Raj were soon granted bail, several accused who come from economically weaker sections were acquitted after 11 months.

Apart from 21-year-old Abdul Rehman, the conditions of the homes of many poor accused remain deplorable, and their families had to depend on charity for their daily sustenance. Rehman's father Nasir Khan said that they have two children, one lives in a village and the other son is Abdul Rehman who works alone and runs the house. He added they even had to raise money for the operation of Abdul Rehman's mother, but their financial situation is difficult.

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Abdul Rehman says that he has got nothing to do with the violence, he claimed that he was called by the Commercial Street Police Station for questioning under a petty case and was arrested three days later. Advocate Niaz, who is pursuing the case, said that Abdul Rehman is innocent and had been falsely implicated. The lawyer also said that despite MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy continuously filing objections, Rehman was granted bail for the fourth time after a heated debate in the High Court.

It may be recalled that Akhanda Srinivasan Murthy, a local MLA, had repeatedly said in the case that the residents of his constituency had no role in setting fire to his house. But to prevent the release of the accused who hails from his own constituency, the MLA had repeatedly filed objection petitions in various courts.