On 11th August 2020, after shopping and purchases for Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Bengaluru was preparing for the next day. Since we need to rise early for Puja, and just as we were about to retire for the day, Bengaluru came into news all over the country. Just as televisions were switched on, flames were raging on Pulakeshinagar MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s residence.
Among shouts of Allah-hu-Akbar, a huge mob assembled were hurling stones at Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s home and setting it on fire. They also attacked Fire Engines that rushed to the spot. Thereafter they barged into KG Halli Police Station, the local Police station. Setting two vans parked there on fire, they began attacking the police station. Not stopping at that, the mob indulged in violence against the Cops and media too.
What was the provocation for this incident? What was the background? Who was the architect behind this mindless act? What were their objectives? Was it spontaneous or pre-planned?
The provocation
A post by Naveen, nephew (younger sister’s son) of Pulakeshinagar MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy of Indian National Congress. This post was about Prophet Mohammed that allegedly hurt religious sentiments. Thereafter, a mob gathered with Bottles filled with Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene and stones and at first arrived and attacked the Congress MLAs house.
Violence Intensifies
Thereafter, the fire engine that rushed to the spot was also attacked by the mob. They also set fire to the patrol vehicle belonging to KG Halli/DG Halli police station. Since they had to order for direct action, it was obvious that the police had to flee to save themselves. Policemen hiding was deemed a sign of fear on their part and the mob immediately attacked the police station. They indulged in wanton destruction of police station by incessant stoning. Did it stop at this? No, it was only the beginning.
The Plan
There is an attempt from some quarters to drive the narrative of it being a spontaneous act. A simple question for those people – If their anger was against Congress MLA, whey were they asking names of people going on the streets and also attacking Police Station? Why are Police department targeted? Despite violence and destruction of properties everywhere, how is it that there was none in the residential areas of miscreants?
Let us look at the sequence of events
- They attack Legislator’s house.
- Set fire to Police Van
- Vandalise and attempt Set fire to Police Station
- Lock up DCP who went there to pacify the mob (As informed to media by Minister A Ashoka)
- Setting DCP’s car on fire
- Fearing reprisals and police reinforcements arriving, attack police Quarters
- Erect Barricades to block roads
- Continuous stoning
- Another attempt to vandalise KG Halli Police Station
What was the basic trigger? A Facebook post – Seriously? All this violence for a Facebook post? It is here that it takes a different turn.
Anger against Ram Mandir Bhumi Puja?
This suspicion is based on the audio tape aired by Times Now on 10th August 2020. The excerpt of the conversation – “they have begun the process of establishing a Hindu Nation. Dear Muslims brothers and sister, come and let us all stand up together. Let us stop Narendra Modi from hoisting the national flag on August 15th. We have to learn our lessons from the Khalistani Sikhs who are pushing for a separate statehood by conducting referendum 2020. Similarly, let us also work for a separate Muslim state. Allah Hafiz”.
An audio of 10th August inciting Muslim community becoming viral, and indulging in violence in Bengaluru on 11th August for a trivial reason makes things obvious. Not just the Congress, there are other big players behind this.
SDPI’s role?
It is very clear from whatever transpired that some leader indeed had good two-timing skill. Subsequent to lodging a formal complaint, Muzammil Pasha of SDPI, along with Jaffer and another person makes a typical political speech to the people gathered, beseeching that the nation knows them to be peace-lovers, peace should be maintained.
Was assembling huge mob of goons at 11 pm part of the one-point agenda of maintaining peace? FIR lodged by police against Muzammil Pasha and Ayaz would reveal the answers to this question. At the time of writing this, along with Pasha, more than 140 people have been detained in connection with this violent incident
Money involved?
This suspicion arises from some CCTV footages, where around 10:45pm, a person arrives on a bike and appear to be paying 3 rioters. What makes this suspicion stronger is that he calls out to specific set of people among the stone pelters.
It is pertinent to note at this stage is connection to the Kerala Gold smuggling case. It has been confirmed that a huge share of smuggled gold was being used to fund PFI activities. There have been allegations that it was also used to fuel Anti-CAA protests and violence in Bengaluru.
The circumstantial evidence of this sleaze money being used in last evening’s violence are too glaring to be ignored. It definitely calls for an investigation to establish or rule out such aspects.
Despite all these, if anyone still thinks this violence was spontaneous, and the result of a trivial Facebook post, one has to be very naïve and needs to view the world a bit more intelligently.
