Three persons were killed in police firing and 60 policemen were injured after violence broke out in Bengaluru on Tuesday night over a Facebook message posted allegedly by the relative of a Congress MLA. 110 people have been arrested for violence, stone-throwing and assault on police personnel.
Protesters set around two dozen cars on fire and surrounded Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy's house in the Karnataka capital. Mr Murthy's nephew Naveen, who allegedly posted the message on Facebook, has been arrested.
The police used lathi-charge, tear gas and firing to disperse the violent crowd. The incidents, they said, took place in the DG Halli and KG Halli areas in the eastern part of Bengaluru.
“DG Halli and KG Halli saw violent incidents. To bring this under control, police used lathi charge, tear gas and firing. Police Commissioner went to the spot. Police bandobast is in place. Strict action will be taken against those offenders,” the Bengaluru police posted on Twitter.
200 bikes kept at a police station were set on fire. A police station was damaged in the violence.
Bengaluru police commissioner Kamal Pant said the situation has been brought under control. While a curfew has been imposed in the violence-hit areas of DG Halli and KG Halli till tomorrow morning, large gatherings have been banned in the rest of Bengaluru city.
At least one journalist was injured after being hit by the police while reporting on the violence.
In tweets this morning, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa condemned the attack and said strict action would be taken against those involved in the violence.
