Hubballi violence: Arrested accused allowed to attend II PUC exams; number of arrests rise to 126

 

Hubballi : The JMFC has permitted a youth, whose social media post stoked a riot-like situation at Hubballi, to attend II PUC examinations beginning on April 22.

The youth Abhisheik Hiremath will be given textbooks to prepare for the examinations and would be escorted by the police to the examination center.

Meanwhile, the police probing the incident have arrested as many as 126 people for arson after examining the CCTV footage. They are yet to arrest Moulvi Wasim Pathan.

A large number of Muslims hit the streets on Saturday midnight and went on the rampage. They were angry with a social media post showing a saffron flag on a mosque. Many policemen were injured and their vehicles damaged by the rioters. The rioters damaged a nearby Hanuman temple and a hospital too.

The investigation has revealed shocking details of rioters attempting to kill policemen. Police constables — Anil Kandekar and Manjunath — attached to Kasaba police station have stated in their complaint that they had a narrow escape after the rioters attempted to lynch them taking advantage of the situation.

Reportedly when the constable tried to control the situation near Diddi Hanumantha temple, the rioters not only stopped them but tried to hit them on their heads with boulders. The constables escaped from the spot leaving behind their vehicles.

However, the incident has taken a communal turn with opposition leaders urging a ban on the RSS, VHP and Sanatana organisation. Ruling BJP leaders have warned that if people do not live in peace, they will have to get ready for ruthless action which has been initiated in BJP ruled states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Karnataka police have extended the curfew orders in Hubballi city till April 23, against the backdrop of maintaining law and order in the city. The prohibitory orders were clamped from April 17 to April 20.