Bengaluru, 12th August: Three people have died after police fired up on crowds protesting an allegedly blasphemous Facebook post about the Prophet Muhammad.
Violence had flared up at KG Halli and neighbouring DJ Halli in the city, where a police station and the house of a Congress MLA were attacked. Around 200 bikes kept outside the police station were set on fire and the building was damaged in the violence. Three people died when the police opened fire to control the mob. Many police personnel were injured, the officers have said.
The provocation was a Facebook post by a man known to be close to Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy. Through the morning, various leaders and ministers have repeatedly sent out messages of peace.
Police have arrested the man who posted on Facebook, and more than 100 protestors who were protesting the Facebook post.
Police confirmed that Muzamill Pasha and six others from the SDPI have also been detained for questioning.
City commissioner Kamal Pant said that at least 60 policemen including senior officers were injured in the violence on Tuesday night. Curfew was also imposed in two police districts of the city, he said.
The deaths were confirmed by the home minister of Karnataka state of which Bangalore is the capital.
Meanwhile city police tweeted that the situation was “under control”, adding that personnel had fired live ammunition to disperse the crowd only after using tear gas and batons first.
The violence started after protesters massed outside the politician’s house as well as a police station after spotting the post, which local media say has since been deleted.
Leaders from the Muslim community met city police commissioner Kamal Pant earlier today and told him that the police were slow to act on complaints about the social media post the community leaders found offensive.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, made a video appeal to protesters to stay calm and promised them justice.
“I appeal to my Muslim brethren not to fight over someone who has violated the law. Whatever be the matter, we are all brothers. Whoever is responsible we shall ensure that proper punishment is given to those responsible. I am with you,” it said.