K'taka Minister Araga Jnanendra terms Hubballi violence 'pre-planned conspiracy'

Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra asserted that no one who takes the law into their hand will not be spared. Violence broke out in Hubbali on Saturday at midnight after an objectionable photo went viral on social media. Hundreds of people belonging to a minority community came onto the streets and indulged in violence. Soon, the incident took a communal turn.

Hubballi:Hubballi violence incident is similar to the one at D.J. Halli where a mob gathered in front of the police station in Bengaluru, torched police vehicles and the house of a sitting MLA. The D.J. Halli violence erupted after a youth shared an objectionable post hurting religious sentiments, said Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said on Sunday. The minister was referring to the 2020 riot in Bengaluru where a mob set afire the residence of Congress MLA from Pulakeshi Nagar assembly constituency R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy and his sister over a social media post by his relative that was considered offensive by Muslims.

Terming the Hubbali violence a "preplanned conspiracy," Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra asserted that no one who takes the law into their hand will not be spared. Violence broke out in Hubbali on Saturday at midnight after an objectionable photo went viral on social media. Hundreds of people belonging to a minority community came onto the streets and indulged in violence. Soon, the incident took a communal turn.

Police have now brought the situation under control. Several, including the one who shared the post, have been arrested in connection with the violence. Regardless of their religion, no one who indulged in violence will be spared. It seems to be a preplanned conspiracy at the outset, said the State Home Minister. "According to the information I received, piles of stones were collected before violence. While one PSI has been injured seriously and admitted to hospital, others have sustained injuries too," he added.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped in Hubballi city in Karnataka and 40 people were arrested after the violence that left 12 police personnel injured. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai termed it an organized attack and said the state will not tolerate such incidents. He also appealed to the people to look at the incident from the law and order point of view.