'Bengaluru violence was pre-planned, needed a spark to explode'

Bengaluru : The Karnataka government has said that the Bengaluru violence was pre planned and needed just an spark to explode. It appears to be a larger conspiracy to disrupt peace in the state.

"This is a kind of organized way to create unrest," R.Ashok, Karnataka's revenue minister told reporters in Bengaluru.

The speculations come after violence was reported in three localities of Pulekeshinagar assembly constituency in which at least three people died.

The incident was triggered after the relative of Congress legislator from Pulekeshinagar in Bengaluru, Akhanda Srinivas Murthy posted a derogatory cartoon against Prophet Mohammed. Though the perpetrator was arrested, mobs that gathered outside in D.J.Halli,K.G.Halli and Kaval Byrsandra localities attacked and tried to burn down the police station.

While the mob attack lasted for few hours and three people lost their lives, the incident left behind a trail of destruction as the mob went on a rampage, torching vehicles and pelting stones at the police and residences.

Karnataka chief minister B.S.Yediyurappa has ordered an inquiry into the incident which grabbed national attention. The riots come at a time when Bengaluru has seen a sharp surge in covid- 19 cases and the incident on Tuesday night sparked fears of fresh infections due to the gathering of large crowds.

At least 110 persons have been arrested and several policemen and media personnel among others were injured.