The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over probe in two cases related to large-scale violence at DJ Halli and KG Halli under Bengaluru city limits on the night of August 11 in which the house of an MLA and two police stations besides vehicles were torched by miscreants.

The anti-terror probe agency took over the investigation of the two cases of arson and violence wherein Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act had been invoked by State Police.

The NIA has now re-registered these two cases.

The first case has arisen out of an FIR registered at Devarajeevana Halli PS, Bengaluru on August 12. The second was registered on the basis of a case registered by Kadugondana Halli PS, Bengaluru on August 12. 

On August 11, 2020, around 8 pm, more than 1,000 people gathered in front of the house of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy (Pulakeshi Nagar constituency) at Kavalbyrasandra, Bengaluru City. The mob was protesting against the alleged derogatory social media (Facebook) post about Prophet Mohammed made on August 11 at around 4 PM Naveen, nephew of the MLA allegedly insulting the religious sentiments of the Muslims.

“The State Secretary of SDPI, Muzamil Pasha had earlier called a meeting and directed the members of PFI/SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence. The mob went on rampage in DJ Halli, KG Halli and Pulikeshi Nagar area under Bengaluru City. They attacked the two police stations namely DJ Halli PS and KG Halli PS and vandalised the property of police stations including Government and private vehicles parked in the Police Stations. The mob also attacked the house of Pulakeshi Nagar constituency MLA before attacking the police stations,” the NIA said in a statement.