Three people have been killed and dozens injured, including police, after violent protests erupted outside a police station in Bengaluru, India.
The scare was sparked by a provocateur – who is related to a local politician – accused of posting destructive content related to the Prophet Mohammed on Facebook, police said Wednesday.
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Founders burned public and police cars, threw stones and attacked the house of the politician whose family was at the center of the accusations. The post has since been deleted and the person responsible for it has apparently been arrested, police said.
A woman and children walk past the wreckage of cars and furniture burned during violent protests in Bengaluru, India, on Wednesday 12 August 2020. (AP Photo)
“Three people died in the police operation and more than 110 people have been arrested for attacks on the police station,” said senior police officer Kamal Pant. At least 60 policemen were injured in what became known as the Bengaluru violence in Bangalore on Tuesday night.
Pant said police fired live ammunition in self-defense to disperse the public after they first used tear gas and batons.
Authorities imposed a ban on large gatherings thereafter and secured security throughout the city.
“Things are peaceful now,” Pant said.
A police officer sues a motorist for violating prohibition orders a day after violent protests in Bengaluru, India, on Wednesday 12 August 2020. (AP Photo)
Muslims and Hindus throughout India have a long history of tension and pockets of violence have returned in recent years, fueled by policies under Prime Minister Hindrik Nationalist government, which has been in power since 2014.
Meanwhile, Muslim leaders urged angry groups to stop the uprising on Tuesday and remain peaceful.
Violence in southern India comes months after communal unrest in the national capital, New Delhi, in which more than 55 people, mostly Muslims, were killed.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
