NIA conducts searches in Karnataka in last year's police station attack cases

Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted simultaneous searches at seven locations here in connection with attacks on two police stations by a mob last year over an alleged derogatory post on social media, an official said.

The searches were carried out at the premises of seven absconding charge-sheeted accused, the official said.

The two cases were registered at DJ Halli and KG Halli Police Stations in August last year after a mob, protesting the alleged derogatory social media post about Prophet Muhammad by one Naveen, turned violent and targeted the police stations, the NIA official said.

The mob attacked police personnel, burnt the force’s vehicles and damaged government and private properties in and around the two police stations, the official said.

The NIA re-registered the cases and in February filed a charge sheet against 109 and 138 accused persons in connection with the attacks on the two police stations respectively.

During the searches, various incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized from the premises of the absconding accused, the NIA official said, adding that further investigation was underway.