17 SDPI & PFI activist arrested in connection with B'luru riots

New Delhi:The anti- terror probe agency NIA said that it has arrested seventeen SDPI and PFI leaders and activists for their involvement in the  violent attack and large scale rioting at KG Halli Police Station, Bengaluru on August 11 this year.

The riots were triggered after a Facebook post by Naveen, nephew of a Congress Pulakeshi Nagar MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy.

The case was originally registered as FIR no. 229/ 2020, PS KG Halli on August 12 this year and  the National Investigation Agency took over this case on September 21 and initiated investigation in this case.

So far, the investigation has revealed that the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leaders, namely, Md Sharieff, a district president of that organization, Imran Ahmed, along with other senior leaders like  Rubah Waqas, Shabbar Khan and Shaik Ajmal had conducted meetings at Thanissandra and KG Halli wards  in Bengaluru in the evening of  August 11 wherein they conspired, mobilised and  led the crowd gathered at KG Halli Police station to attack the police personnel, causing huge damage to the public and police station vehicles. 

Similarly, accused Abbas,  the SDPI President of Nagwara ward, had also mobilised large crowd at the KG Halli police station through his associates Azil Pasha, Irfan Khan and Akbar Khan. 

NIA officials also revealed the use of social media channels like  Facebook, Instagram, What'sApp to spread terror among people and mobilised people from faraway places to gather at KG Halli Police Station. Accused Saddam, Sayed Sohel, Kaleemulla aka  Shahrukh Khan were active social media users who participated in riots as well as instigated others to gather at the Police Station. 

In the case, so far, 187 accused persons have been arrested, the probe agency said, adding that further investigation in this case is under progress.(UNI)