B'luru violence: Fact-finding committee says no evidence to suggest violence was communal in nature

Bengaluru: A report on the violence in DJ Halli and KG Halli areas of Bengaluru last month has been released by the fact-finding committee.

The committee recommends an immediate socio-economic survey in the areas to assess the loss of livelihoods, nutrition, health, and shelter.

In the report, the committee denied allegations that the mob was communal or political in nature. They said no evidence suggesting that violence was communal in nature has been found.

“There is a lack of substantial evidence to suggest that the mob violence was communal in nature, in that it specifically targeted the Hindu community or that it was premeditated and pre-planned,” the report said.

Violence broke out in parts of Bengaluru on August 11 over an alleged derogatory social media post and at least three people lost their lives and nearly 60 police personnel were injured during the incident. The police have arrested around 415 accused in connection with the violence.

An FIR was registered on the complaint of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy at DJ Halli Police station three days after the violence broke out in parts of Bengaluru over an alleged “derogatory” social media post by his nephew, the police said.

The accused who were arrested in the case include Naveen, the nephew of MLA Srinivas Murthy, and Kaleem Pasha, the husband of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike corporator from Nagwara ward Irshad Begum.