BENGALURU: The recent riots in Bengaluru were “pre-planned and organized” and were “undoubtedly community motivated”, citizens for democracy in his investigative report presented to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday said.
He said the mob during the nighttime August 11 riots had specifically targeted certain prominent Hindus in the area, and that the entire incident qualifies as a “riot against the state” with the motive of “reducing the faith of the common people in the state. ” .
Citizens for Democracy is a platform of responsible citizens that claims to be committed to democratic values and the safety of the citizens of India.
Started in 2011, it has carried out various seminars, campaigns on issues of national and social importance.
Citizens for Democracy in a statement said that the investigation committee made up of prominent representatives of society was formed to investigate recent violenceas it is imperative to examine the incident in a neutral way without prejudice or vested political interests with an exclusive commitment to the truth.
The investigative panel headed by retired district judge Srikanth D Babaladi, had retired IAS officer Madan Gopal, retired IFS officer R Raju, among others, including retired bureaucrats, journalists, advocates, teachers, and social workers.
Committee members led by Madan Gopal presented the report to Yediyurappa today.
Noting that it is estimated that almost 36 government vehiclesSince about 300 private vehicles and many houses were destroyed by the violence, the committee has said that the damage could be estimated at about 10 to 15 million rupees.
In the FIRs and in certain interactions with the victims, it was possible to see that the local population was also involved in carrying out this riot, the committee said, “it is of the opinion that the local population was not only involved in the execution but also I was aware of it in advance. ”
“Despite the attempts that were made to project the same as political rivalry, it was undoubtedly motivated by the community.
The panel is of the opinion that depending on the type of houses and people attacked, the reason for the riots could also be the spread of fear to change the demographics and turn the area into a Muslim majority, “he said.
He also opined that SDPI and PFI were involved in the planning and execution of this incident.
The violence in DJ Halli and adjacent areas on the night of August 11 was unleashed by hundreds of people via an inflammatory post on social media allegedly posted by P Naveen, a relative of the Pulakeshinagar MLA R Akhanda Congress. Srinivasa Murthy.
The MLA residence and a police station in DJ Halli were burned down by rioters who also set fire to many police and private vehicles and looted the belongings of the legislator and his sister.
More than 300 people have been arrested in connection with the violence and the investigation is ongoing.
Retired Judge Justice HS Kempanna has also been appointed as the “Claims Commissioner” to assess damages caused during the violence and recover costs from the perpetrators.
All costs incurred by the state and individuals should be recovered by adjudicating property from the rioters, the committee said in its recommendations.
The pattern of the riots is similar to that in Delhi and Sweden and it is therefore imperative that the state investigate the incident comprehensively and not consider them isolated and local.
Funds received by religious extremist individuals and organizations should be continuously monitored involving the NIA, while potential areas that could face such communal tensions should be identified by police in advance, he suggested.
The establishment of a cyber dome to ensure that social networks are not used to incite hatred, the strengthening of intelligence generation mechanisms, are some of the other recommendations made by the committee.
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