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Derogatory social media post on Prophet Muhammad sparks communal violence in Bengaluru

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Shivani Negi
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Derogatory social media post on Prophet Muhammad sparks communal violence in Bengaluru

A social media post on Prophet Muhammad created havoc in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Tuesday night. The post which was alleged to be derogatory was uploaded on Facebook by a relative of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy leading to major violence in DJ Halli area.

Following this, an angry mob gathered outside the MLA's house and burnt down the vehicles parked outside his residence in Kaval Byrasandra. Fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot but the mob did not let the vehicles pass through.

The post is said to have incited communal hatred in East Bengaluru.

A group of around 1,000 people gathered outside the KG Halli police stations, demanding the police to take immediate action against MLA's kin, P Naveen, resposnsible for the social media post.

The police then had to had to lathi-charge the mob, lob the tear gas and finally open fire to control them which left 2 people killed and 60 police personnel injured.

"Two people died and around 60 police personnel sustained injuries in the violence in Bengaluru," ANI reported Police Commissioner Kamal Pant as saying. He also said the accused Naveen has been arrested for sharing derogatory post on social media.

“110 people have also been arrested in connection with the violence that broke out in Bengaluru over an alleged inciting social media post,” Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Bengaluru said.

Later, MLA Murthy appealed to the community members to not resort to violence. "I am appealing to my Muslim brethren that we should not resort to violence for the fault committed by some miscreants. There is no need to fight. We all are brothers. We will get the person punished as per law. We will also be with you. I appeal to the Muslim friends to be calm," he said in a video message.

After the major disruption in the city, section 144 has been imposed in Bengaluru while curfew will be observed in DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations. State home minister B Bommai said that nobody will be allowed to take the law into their own hands, He also mentioned that additional police forces have also been deployed to spark further violence.

Meanwhile, people familiar with matter have said that Naveen has denied posting any demeaning content saying his social media account was hacked.

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