Three killed in Bengaluru violence over 'derogatory' social media post, accused arrested

Protests broke out in eastern Bengaluru late on Tuesday over a "derogatory message" posted by a politician's relative on social media in which three people were killed. Accused Naveen has been arrested and section 144 has been imposed in Bengaluru and curfew in DJ Halli & KG Halli police station limits of the city.

Bengaluru: At least three people were killed in the violence that broke out in eastern Bengaluru over a social media post allegedly posted by a relative of Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy.

"Accused Naveen, who is the nephew of Congress MLA, has been arrested for sharing derogatory posts on social media," said Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant.

"Around 60 police personnel have been injured and 110 people have been arrested in connection with the violence that broke out in Bengaluru over an alleged inciting social media post," said Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bengaluru

Police have imposed Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in Bengaluru to prohibit the assembly of four or more persons in an area, while curfew has been imposed in DJ Halli and KG Halli police station limits.

A mob gathered outside Congress legislator Akanda Srinivas Murthy's house where they shouted slogans against the post and also resorted to arson.

The mob was demanding the arrest of Naveen, who is related to Murthy and rioted in DJ Halli, KG Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar. Murthy, the legislator from Pulikeshi Nagar, posted a video on social media asking the mob to stop the agitation.

"Two people died in police firing, one injured shifted to a hospital. Restrictions under Section 144 of CrPC imposed in Bengaluru and curfew imposed in DJ Halli & KG Halli police station limits of the city," said Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant.

Taking cognisance of the matter, Karnataka Home Minister Basawaraj Bommai said, "Issue will be resolved and strict action will be taken against those found guilty."

"Around 60 police personnel including an Additional Commissioner of Police injured in clashes that broke out over an alleged inciting social media post, in DJ Halli & KG Halli police station areas of Bengaluru," Pant said.

A large mob was also seen opposite KG Halli police station in the city. The mob chanted religious slogans even as some members from the same community tried to calm down the mob.

Naveen, who allegedly posted the offensive post, stated that his Facebook account was hacked and also appeared before the police soon after violence broke out.

Meanwhile, to control and disperse the mob, policemen in riot gear were deployed and baton-charged protesters who resorted to arson and also overturned the police vehicle.

Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy's residence in Bengaluru was vandalised on Tuesday, allegedly over an inciting social media post by his nephew, police said.

Murthy's house was attacked by people for an alleged controversial post on Facebook regarding Prophet Muhammad by his nephew Naveen.

Taking note of the situation, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "Issue will be probed but vandalism is not the solution. Additional forces have been deployed. Action will be taken against miscreants."

Meanwhile, several videos of the riot and arson went viral.

(with ANI and IANS inputs)