NIA arrests key conspirator of Bengaluru violence; conducts searches at 30 locations

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 24

Anti-terror probe agency NIA on Thursday said it has arrested a key conspirator of the August Bengaluru violence, Sayed Saddiq Ali for his involvement in the attack on KG Halli Police Station in the city and conducted searches at 30 locations in connection with the case.

Officials in the agency said the arrested accused has worked as a recovery agent with a bank and was absconding immediately after the riots on August 11, 2020. The attack on the police station had resulted in huge damage and destruction of public and government property, they said.

The officials said the searches were also conducted at 30 locations in Bengaluru city to unearth the conspiracy behind the attacks on DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations. “During searches airgun, pellets, sharp weapons, iron rods, digital devices, DVRs and many SDPI & PFI related incriminating documents and material were recovered,” a senior NIA official said.

On September 23, 2020 following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), NIA took up the investigation in the two Bengaluru violence cases which the Karnataka police had registers under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Prevention of Damage to Public property Act, Karnataka Prevention of Destruction and Loss of Property Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – UAPA.

“These cases pertain to mob violence post a derogatory social media remark by one Naveen, nephew of Srinivas Akhanda Murthy, a sitting Congress MLA, (Pulakeshi Nagar, Bengaluru) allegedly insulting the religious sentiments of Muslims,” the official said.

The State Secretary, Social Democratic Party of India, Muzamil Pasha and other members of Social Democratic Party of India/Popular Front of India gathered a mob at the houses of Naveen, Srinivas Murthy and at the premises of DJ Halli and KG Halli police stations, who vandalised the premises and resorted to arson, creating fear and panic among the masses, the officials said.