The magisterial inquiry into the August 11 riots in DJ Halli and KG Halli in Bengaluru will begin on September 2.
"The probe will be conducted like court proceedings and as per the National Human Rights Commission guidelines from September 2," said Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner G.N. Shivamurthy, who visited the DJ Halli police station on Thursday to collect information about the incident of arson that gutted the house of the local MLA, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, and the police station.
"The government has given a three-month deadline to submit the inquiry report. In all, 71 FIRs have been filed in the two police stations and 388 persons have been arrested in connection with the incident that claimed four lives and left 70 injured, including cops. At least 126 vehicles and buildings have been torched. The RTO officials are assessing the damages," said Shivamurthy, who urged the people to provide any evidence or statements to the DC office.
"All information given to us by the people will be kept confidential. I will submit the report after investigating into the riots and also the police firing that followed," added Shivamurthy.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Kamal Pant, asserted that the police had not arrested any innocent persons, but only the accused based on digital evidence.
Pant is being targeted by the opposition Congress leaders, who allege that the police chief is playing into the hands of the ruling BJP and framing the Congress party and arresting the "innocents". Pant countered the criticism, saying the police had only arrested people against whom there was digital evidence.
"Till now, we have arrested 377 persons and more arrests will follow. Of all the cases filed in DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations, three cases are being investigated by the CCB, and the remaining by the Bengaluru East Division police," he added.