Should All Culprits in DJ Halli and KG Halli Riot Case Face Punishment?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Justice served for three rioters in DJ Halli-KG Halli case.
- Karnataka BJP demands punishment for all involved.
- Political implications of the convictions highlighted.
- Call for preventive measures to avoid future violence.
- Public's expectation for accountability is clear.
Bengaluru, July 24 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP has expressed its support for the conviction of three individuals involved in the DJ Halli and KG Halli riot case from 2020, demanding that all individuals responsible for the riot must face justice.
“The event where an MLA’s residence was set ablaze is still vivid in our memories. Many individuals are implicated in this case, including members linked to the banned organization PFI and supporters of Pakistan. They must receive severe penalties,” stated R. Ashoka, the Karnataka Leader of the Opposition.
State BJP President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra also praised the court's ruling to impose seven years of rigorous imprisonment on three individuals who vandalized and torched the KG Halli police station.
“This landmark decision is a significant blow to the Congress-led administration in Karnataka, which had sought to form a committee to exonerate the rioters, portraying them as innocent for political gain. The public now anticipates that the remaining accused will also receive stringent penalties,” he noted.
He called on the state government to implement strong and preventive measures to ensure such occurrences do not repeat and to deter such criminal elements from committing future acts of violence.
On Wednesday, the Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bengaluru sentenced three individuals connected to the DJ Halli-KG Halli riot case to seven years in prison and levied a fine of Rs 20,000 on each.
The convicted are 44-year-old Syed Ikramuddin alias Syed Naveed from Kushalnagar, 46-year-old Syed Asif from Bharat Mata Layout, and 26-year-old Mohammad Atif from Basava Nagar.
Syed Ikramuddin was the 14th accused, Syed Asif the 16th, and Mohammad Atif the 18th in the charges. They were found guilty of criminal conspiracy for their roles in setting fire to the KG Halli police station during the riots.
The incident occurred on August 11, 2020, when a group of 25 to 30 individuals assembled outside the KG Halli Police Station, shouting slogans and demanding the arrest of Naveen, the nephew of former MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, for allegedly posting a derogatory message about the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
According to the charges, the mob, led by Syed Ikramuddin and others, stormed the KG Halli Police Station demanding a case against Naveen. The crowd grew increasingly violent, exacerbated by rising tensions in the adjacent DJ Halli Police Station area.
The violence escalated, resulting in the mob vandalizing and setting fire to both government and private vehicles parked near the police station. They also threatened to kill Naveen if he was not handed over to them.
Ultimately, the rioters caused damage to a total of 12 vehicles, including five two-wheelers and one Innova car that were completely destroyed.
In the FIR, the police identified 199 individuals as accused. Among these, 187 were apprehended, four surrendered, and one individual died. The police later filed charges against 138 individuals.