Violence erupts in Bengaluru, MLA's house attacked, 2 killed, 60 police personnel injured

- Protesters attack Congress MLA's house over Facebook post, Article 144 applied

Bengaluru, Ta. 12 August 2020, Wednesday

The clash took place late Tuesday night in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The MLA's house was attacked by people who were agitated over a Facebook post made by a personal person of Congress MLA Srinivasa Murthy. The case then escalated into arson, stoning and clashes with police. Two people were killed and several others were injured in the late night clashes. Section 144 has been enforced in Bengaluru to curb the situation while curfew has been imposed in areas of violence.

When and why was the controversy?

A Facebook post was made by a person considered personal by the MLA which caused outrage among the people of one community. The MLA's house was then cordoned off and by 9:30 a.m. thousands of people had gathered in the crowd. The vandalism then started and the mob set the MLA's house and police station on fire.

Late at night, the mob set fire to about a dozen police vehicles so that the police resorted to baton charges to control the crowd and later opened fire. Two people were reported killed and several others were injured in the police firing. According to local police, the situation was brought under control at around 2 am and the crowd was dispersed from the MLA's house, police station. So far, police have arrested 110 people. According to Police Commissioner Kamal Pant, 60 police personnel were injured in the incident, including an additional commissioner.

The Chief Minister gave a free hand to the Home Minister

Curfew has been imposed in all the affected areas by the local police and Section 144 has been enforced in the whole of Bengaluru. Some people reached the police station to lodge a complaint over a Facebook post and the controversy started. It is alleged that the police refused to register a complaint asking them to resolve the dispute internally.

As soon as the situation deteriorated, all the police officers of the city rushed to the spot and tried to control the situation. Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa also called on the state Home Minister late last night. Talking to Bommai gave a free hand to control the situation.

Karnataka Home Minister B. "What happened is a violation of the law. No one should take the law into their own hands if there is a dispute," Bommai said in a late-night statement. Action will be taken against all the accused. I have spoken to the authorities, no one should be provoked and the dispute will be resolved quickly. '

He also released a video of the MLA's house being attacked. In the video, Srinivasa said, "I urge everyone to keep the peace. Whatever the dispute is, we will resolve it by talking to each other." Violence does not benefit anyone, whoever makes a mistake needs to be punished.