Guwahati: Three persons were killed in police firing and 60 policemen were injured after violence broke out in Bengaluru on Tuesday night over a Facebook message posted allegedly by the relative of a Congress MLA. 110 people have been arrested for violence, stone-throwing and assault on police personnel.
Protesters set around two dozen cars on fire and surrounded Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy’s house in the Karnataka capital. Mr Murthy’s nephew Naveen, who allegedly posted the message on Facebook, has been arrested.
The police used lathi-charge, tear gas and firing to disperse the violent crowd. The incidents, they said, took place in the DG Halli and KG Halli areas in the eastern part of Bengaluru.
“DG Halli and KG Halli saw violent incidents. To bring this under control, police used lathi charge, tear gas and firing. Police Commissioner went to the spot. Police bandobast is in place. Strict action will be taken against those offenders,” the Bengaluru police posted on Twitter.
The Congress MLA had released a video late last night appealing to people to maintain peace. Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai also released a video message, saying people should not take law into their own hands.
He condemned the incidents of arson and looting and said additional police forces had been sent to the worst-hit areas. The police had been given a free hand to bring the situation under control, he said.
Senior Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao appealed people to not to take law into their hands.
