The accused P.Naveen alleged to have invoked communal riot in Bengaluru today -Photo By GPN Source

BENGALURU, 12 AUGUST, 2020 (GPN): Bengaluru Police has arrested Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy’s nephew Naveen for sharing a derogatory post on social media, which triggered violence in Pulakeshinagar on Tuesday night.

The Congress leader’s relative, identified as P Naveen, had allegedly made insulting remarks about Prophet Muhammad. However, he later posted that his account had been hacked and that he would file a complaint, “For the fault of some miscreants, let us not fight among ourselves,” he said.

Police Commissioner Kamal Pant appealed to the people to cooperate with the police and maintain peace.“Whoever has done that, let police and government take action legally. I am also with you to see that whoever it is, is punished. Please maintain calm.” he added

Hundreds of people pelted stones at Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy’s house in east Bengaluru’s Kaval Byrsandra area. They also set fire to the cars parked there.

Stones were also pelted on police personnel guarding the MLA’s residence. The protesters allegedly did not allow fire engines to enter the street and douse the fire. The MLA was reportedly not at his residence when the attack took place.

The people were incensed after one of Murthy’s relative’s made a derogatory post about a community on Facebook.

Around a thousand people also gathered outside the KG Halli police station and attacked police personnel and also set the property on fire. They were demanding the immediate action against P Naveen, Srinivas Murthy’s nephew who allegedly wrote the offensive post.

“So far, as many as 110 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in the city over an alleged inciting social media post,” Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Bengaluru said.

While section 144 has been imposed in Bengaluru, curfew has been imposed in DJ Halli and KG Halli police station limits after violence broke out in the area.

Earlier Murthy’s house was also vandalised by miscreants following the social media post by his nephew. Around 600 people had gathered outside his house and vandalised the vehicles parked outside and set them ablaze.

According to the sources, after Naveen posted the derogatory image on social media, a group of people had visited the police station to file a complaint against him where the police allegedly asked them to talk and sort it out. Angry over this response, the mob gathered outside the police station and started protesting against the police asking them to take immediate action.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday informed that directives have been issued to take strict action against accused of Bengaluru violence and asserted that the government has taken all possible steps to curb the situation.

While appealing people to maintain peace, he also said that violence against journalists, police and people last night was unacceptable.

P. Naveen is the nephew of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy. He has been closely associated with the youth wing of the Congress Party and has taken part in many activities.