Charges, including attempted murder and rioting, have been dropped against them. Over 100 accused are said to be still under judicial custody.
Published Oct 11, 2024 | 6:34 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 11, 2024 | 7:24 PM
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and other ministers during a meeting. (Supplied)
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday, 10 October, decided to withdraw cases against 138 people, including AIMIM leader Mohammad Arif, accused in the 2022 Hubballi riots.
Charges, including attempted murder and rioting, have been dropped against them. Over 100 accused are said to be still under judicial custody.
The Opposition BJP in the state termed the move as “peak appeasement politics”.
Responding to the criticism over withdrawing cases, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar told reporters in Madikeri: “We have also withdrawn cases against BJP leaders and others as well. The home minister will speak about this.”
“Congress has reached the peak of appeasement politics. The police station was attacked, and the police officers were assaulted. This is not a Hindu-Muslim issue, but a battle between traitors and the system. Anti-national forces are fighting against India’s Constitution and legal system. This was a systematic attack,” Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi said.
“If the names of the officers involved at that time are mentioned, it could lead to a personal vendetta against them. One officer noted that the situation had escalated to the point where it was nearly fatal,” he said.
“155 accused were arrested, and the court denied bail to them for over two years. The government and the public prosecutors have been replaced. Congress leaders, including Zameer Ahmed, wrote letters claiming the accused were innocent. The home minister also wrote a letter, and the lawyers were changed. All this effort was made to release the accused,” he added.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal urged the chief minister to take back the decision immediately and ensure the rule of law prevails.
“The State Cabinet yesterday decided to drop cases against the perpetrators who attacked Hubli Police Station. 12 Policemen were injured, out of which 2 of them received grievous injuries. Police had arrested 46 rioters. The morally bankrupt Congress Government has withdrawn the cases with an eye on the minority vote bank. This appeasement politics has reached a crescendo in Karnataka, with the Congress Government legitimizing the act of stonepelters and those who damaged public/private properties,” he wrote on X.
“It is surprising and befuddling to note that such unimportant incident was discussed in yesterday’s cabinet meeting when there were other priorities including infrastructure, law & order, rain fury, etc. The Congress Government seems to prioritize its vote bank over the development of the State, through such bizarre decisions. I urge the CM to take back the decision immediately and ensure rule of law prevails instead of the law of ruler,” he added.
➥The State Cabinet yesterday decided to drop cases against the perpetrators who attacked Hubli Police Station. 12 Policemen were injured, out of which 2 of them received grievous injuries. Police had arrested 46 rioters.
➥The morally bankrupt Congress Government has… pic.twitter.com/uEghbfr5wY
— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) October 11, 2024
Meanwhile, a police source expressed surprise over the Cabinet decision.
However, responding to an X post by BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said the withdrawn cases included those against the saffron party leaders also.
“Feel sad for this parasite, who thrives on lies and malice. FYI, every case is discussed in the Cabinet Sub-Committee after getting information from local authorities and then comes upto the Cabinet. The previous BJP government used the Home Dept to file cases on farmer organizations, Dalit and backward organizations, opposition parties and any individual who stood against the Govt,” he wrote on X.
“Among the other cases that were discussed and withdrawn were those of your leaders, they are:
– Sri. V Somanna, MP & Union Minister, BJP
– Dr. MC Sudhakar, MP, BJP
– Sri. CT Ravi, MLC, BJP
– Sri. Sukumar Shetty, MLA, BJP
– Sri. Sanjay Patil, MLA, BJP
– Sri. Renukacharya, Former Minister, BJP
– Sri. KG Bhopiah, Former MLA, BJP
– Sri. Anil Benake, Former MLA, BJP
– Smt. Mangala Somshekar, BJP Leader
They are anti-nationals too?” he questioned.
Feel sad for this parasite, who thrives on lies and malice.
FYI, every case is discussed in the Cabinet Sub-Committee after getting information from local authorities and then comes upto the Cabinet.
The previous BJP government used the Home Dept to file cases on farmer… https://t.co/hoaglDWBE2
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 11, 2024
After unknown miscreants posted a derogatory image on social media illustrating a saffron flag atop a mosque, a riot broke out in Hubballi on 16 April, 2022.
Following that, a group of five to six people belonging to the Muslim community approached the Old Hubballi Police Station demanding action on the matter.
The Police immediately registered a case and arrested the culprit. Despite police action, a group of Muslims, about 100 to 150 people turned up at the police station, demanding to hand over the accused to them.
When police refused to hand over the accused to the group, the gathered crowd not only damaged public property but also assaulted on-duty police officers. The tensions turned to violence in the old Hubballi area.
Recently, Members of the relief committee formed under the umbrella of Ajuman-E-Islam Hubli submitted a memorandum to the home minister and the deputy chief minister to withdraw the cases.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
