The NIA on Tuesday took up investigation into the Bengaluru violence in August after the Union home ministry issued orders on two cases of arson and violence in which the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act had been invoked by the state police.
NIA officials said large-scale violence had been caused by miscreants in DJ Halli and KG Halli police station limits of Bengaluru city on the night of August 11 According to the NIA, around 08:00pm, more than 1,000 people gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar constituency) at Kavalbyrasandra in Bengaluru city.
NIA officials said the mob was protesting against an alleged derogatory social media (Facebook) post about Prophet Mohammed made on August 11 around 4pm by Naveen, nephew of the MLA, insulting the religious sentiments of Muslims.
According to the NIA, the state secretary of SDPI, Muzamil Pasha, had earlier called a meeting and allegedly directed the members of PFI/SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence. The mob went on a rampage in DJ Halli, KG Halli and Pulakeshi Nagar areas in Bengaluru city. They attacked the two police stations, namely DJ Halli police station and KG Halli police station, and vandalised the property of police stations including government and private vehicles parked in the police stations, said the agency. “The mob also attacked the house of the MLA before attacking the police stations,” said the NIA.
An NIA team, headed by an IG-rank officer, is camping at Bengaluru in connection with the investigation of these cases.
