Bengaluru: A day after Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya was appointed as the new National President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, he urged Home Minister Amit Shah to set up a National Investigation Agency (NIA) divisional office in Bengaluru.
The request arose in the context of the riots that took place in KG Halli and DJ Halli last month due to a derogatory post against Islam over Facebook. The riots culminated in over 2000 people protesting and pelting-stones, burning of police vehicles belonging to DJ Halli and KG Halli police station, vandalization of other properties and death of three rioters during the police shooting, reported The Hindu. The angry mob also attacked the house of MLA Akhanda Srinivasamurthy whose nephew allegedly posted the inflammatory content.
After the riots, a detailed investigation was launched and a fact-finding team of Citizens for Democracy headed by retired judge Justice Srikanth D Babaladi visited the scene of the crime and reported that “ the riots were pre-planned and organised, and the mob has specifically targeted certain prominent Hindus in the area”. The committee also suggested not to see this incident as
isolated and local and requested for continuous monitoring of anti-social activities by involving NIA, reported The Hindu.
As per a Deccan Herald report, NIA—the Central Counter-Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency in the country—took over the investigation into the riots on September 21. The report also said that the NIA took over the investigation following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). NIA was asked to probe the two FIRs of arson and violence that were registered in connection with the riots under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Last Thursday, NIA concluded its investigation and arrested the key conspirator of the Bengaluru riots 2020 after searching 30 locations in Bengaluru. “During searches, airguns, pellets, sharp weapons, iron rods, digital devices, DVRs and many SDPI and PFI related incriminating documents and material have been seized,” NIA IG Sonia Narang said in a statement to TOI.
Today, South Bengaluru MP, Tejasvi Surya said in a tweet “In last few years, Bengaluru has become an epicentre of terror activities, proven through many NIA arrests and busted sleeper cells in the city and urged Home Minister Amit Shah to set up a permanent division of NIA in Bengaluru. The tweet also added that the Centre has provided assurance of quick setup of an NIA office in Bengaluru.
