22 Apr 2022 18:16:PM
Accused Abhishek Hiremath being brought to exam center in Hubballi.
Abhishek Hiremath, whose alleged social media post led to the violence at Hubballi old town on April 16 night, appeared for the second Pre-University exam on Friday with police protection.
The police took Hiremath from the Hubballi sub-jail to the examination centres at Mahesh PU College in Priyadarshini Colony in a police vehicle. Elaborate security arrangements were made at the exam centres preventing any congregation of people from creating any ruckus. The accused was taken back to the jail after he completed his exam.
Hiremath had allegedly posted a video on social media showing a saffron flag on a mosque, which is said to be the root cause behind the violence.
After the arrest, he was sent to judicial custody. The Hubballi court allowed him to write the exams with police security since he is a second PU student.
Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Mutalik on Friday visited the violence-hit areas and said, “It was a pre-planned attack.”
“Status message is just an excuse, it was a well-planned attack. What was in the status? A saffron flag on a mosque, what is wrong in that? You (Muslims) got worked up just because of that? You have attacked our temple. How worked up do you think we are? This is not Pakistan or Afghanistan, we cannot tolerate such things.”
“Abhishek Hiremath was tortured. His house has a common wall with a mosque. His neighbour is a rowdy who would park his bike in front of his house, they used to throw meat near his house, why? They want to repeat what happened in Kashmir, they want him to flee. They want Hindu shops and temples to be removed which is why they pre-planned this violence,” Mutalik added.
Meanwhile, another youth identified as Veerabhadra Patil from Anand Nagar was arrested on Thursday in connection with circulating the controversial video, which led to violence at the police station.
Hiremath is said to have told the police during investigation that he did not create the video, but simply circulated it. The police suspect that Patil was the one who animated and shared the video with a group.
Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Friday said many “unseen hands” including certain organisations were behind the recent violence in Hubballi, over a social media post, and they will be brought to justice.
He also said that the government was contemplating controlling the activities of such organisations including imposing a ban on them.
“The Hubballi incident was to incite large-scale violence there, as our police acted immediately, the situation was brought under control in a couple of hours. The Maulvi (who allegedly instigated the mob) was arrested on Thursday, investigations are on to find who were behind the incident and organisations that were involved,” Jnanendra said.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, the Home Minister said, there will be a thorough inquiry as there are many unseen hands involved. “Innocent people were incited and sent on to the streets to indulge in violence. Some people are trying to create unrest in the society against a particular community and some organisations are involved in it. We are aware who they are and we will find them…thinking is on in all aspects like-to ban and control them. We want peace and stability and all communities to co-exist,” he added.
Further alleging Congress’ appeasement policy as the reason for communal issues, the Minister said, these are the trees that have grown from the seeds sown by that party.
A mob allegedly went on a rampage damaging many police vehicles, a hospital and a Hanuman temple in the old town of Hubballi and injured some police officers on duty over a social media post on April 16.
‘Muezzin’ Wasim Pathan, the cleric, who is facing charges of instigating the mob for violence, was arrested on Thursday. According to the information last available, the number of people arrested in the case, so far, has gone up to 134.
Karnataka DG & IGP Praveen Sood said strict action will be taken against all those directly or indirectly involved in the violence and no one will be spared.
“All those directly or indirectly involved and conspiracy angle if any will be found and they will be brought to justice. We have arrested all those directly involved and time is required to arrest all those indirectly involved, as technical investigation has to take place,” he said.
Warning against attacking police or police stations, the DGP said, if there is a complaint, police will take it and act, instead of that showing anger against the men in uniform is not right.
(With inputs from PTI)
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