Muslim groups call for peaceful bandh on Jan 22 over Bengaluru riots

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Jan 16, 2021:     The Karnataka Muslim Muttahida Mahaz, a conglomerate of 28 Muslim groups, has called for Muslims in Bengaluru to observe a peaceful bandh on January 22. The bandh has been called in support of the "innocents" who have been jailed in the Bengaluru riots case.

 

The groups have demanded release of "innocent youth" who were arrested in the KG Halli and DJ Halli riots in the city.

The conglomerate has urged Muslim traders to shut their shops from morning till 5 pm. However, participation in this will be voluntary and no one will be forced to join, the conglomerate said.

In August 2020, riots broke out in parts of Bengaluru after Pulikehsinagar’s Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy’s nephew Naveen allegedly posted a "derogatory" message on social media.

This allegedly led to mobs attacking two police stations in the vicinity, followed by burning of vehicles and attack on over 60 cops.

The mob also attacked the home of MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy and set it on fire.

Four people were killed when the local police opened fire to control the rampaging mob.

In the ensuing investigations, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) arrested former Bengaluru mayor and Congress leader R Sampath Raj. They also took into custody another former corporator Abdul Rakeeb Zakir.

Meanwhile, reacting to the call for bandh, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje took to social media and attacked the conglomerate for "sympathising with the culprits".

She said, "The KG Halli and DJ Halli rioters who burnt down the city and created chaos deserve stringent punishments under IPC. Rather (than) respecting the Constitution and law of the land, Muslim organisations have called for a Bangalore bund in support Bangalore riots perpetrators."
She said the bandh call was "highly condemnable" and the "government must act against" the "rioters and their sympathisers".

BJP spokesperson S Prakash said the call for a bandh was on "communal lines".

"Instead of appealing or peace and harmony in society and ensuring these instances do not repeat in the state, they are choosing to stand with those rioters who have been arrested by the police," Prakash said.

Courtesy:India Today