Derogatory posts on a community by a MLA’s relative led to mob violence leading to three deaths in Bengaluru. Political parties too jumped in trading insults and vitiating the atmosphere further.

Initially, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders took to twitter and criticised Congress for appeasing a particular community. Later Congress and Janata Dal Secular (JDS) joined in to criticise the BJP for politicising the clash.

The Bengaluru City Police said, on Tuesday night three people died and over 60 police personnel were injured and over 100 people were taken to custody, in the violence which broke out in Kaval Byrasandra, DJ Halli in East Bengaluru.

According to the police, tension prevailed after the derogatory posts by Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, an MLA, went viral and soon people started gathering in front of his house. The MLA was not at home but the mob pelted stones and set portions of it on fire.

Political slugfest

Opposition leader and Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted “I condemn both violent incidents that erupted in Kaval Byrasandra & also the social media post that instigated the mob. I humbly request both Hindus & Muslims of the area to stay calm, maintain peace & live in harmony.”

This sparked a war of tweets between the Congress and the BJP

While senior JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy joined the issue by saying “No religion or community is above the law. Anyone who doesn’t respect the law of the land should be punished. The government must take tough action against vandals.”

“Attacks on Police who were there to maintain law and order and on media persons who went to cover the news is highly deplorable. These vandals don’t even have remorse on what kind of message they are sending to civil society through their heinous act. Such incidents indicate that this is a pre-planned attack. An explosion of people’s frustration due to nepotism by local representatives and their hunger for power. It is not untrue that family feud provided a platform to this incident,” he added.

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