Muslim groups call for bandh on Jan 22 over Bengaluru riots crackdown, farmers’ protest and love jihad law

KEY STORY

• New Delhi: A conglomerate of around 28 Muslim groups issued an appeal to Muslim shop owners to close their shops on January 22 in support of the “innocents” who have been jailed in the DJ Halli and KJ Halli riots case. They further said that the bandh is also in support of agitating farmers and against the love jihad law.

• Demanding the release of innocent youth who were arrested after the KG Halli and DJ Halli violence the groups said that businesses and shops owned by Muslims will remain closed till 5 pm. There won’t be any meeting, rally or propaganda, said one of the groups.

• Last year in August, violent clashes took place in India’s IT capital after Pulikehsinagar’s Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy’s nephew Naveen posted a derogatory message on the social media.

  Bandh called in support of ‘innocents’ jailed in DJ Halli & KJ Halli riots case

   

• The mobs resorted to stone pelting, injured 60 policemen, and committed acts of vandalism and arson in DJ Halli, KG Halli, Pulikeshinagar and Kaval Byrasandra areas.

• Four persons were killed after police opened fire on the night of August 11 to quell a mob.

• The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) has also arrested Congress party leader and former corporator, Abdul Rakeeb Zakir in connection with the Bengaluru Riot case after arresting former Bengaluru mayor and Congress leader R. Sampath Raj.

  421 arrested so far

   

• So far, 421 people have been arrested, including the Social Democratic Party of India leader Muzammil Pasha.

• The NIA also seized incriminating materials relating to the SDPI and PFI besides weapons like swords, knives and iron rods during the raids, reported IANS.

• In September, Congress leader Siddaramaiah had appealed to the state government to take immediate steps to release “innocents” who were arrested in connection with the Bengaluru riots.