Karnataka: Fahad Khan, Imran, Mohammad and Syed Abbas arrested for supporting Palestine

Bengaluru: Citizen’s group holds solidarity gathering in support of Palestine. However, this gathering has stirred controversy, as some question whether it was a citizen group or a specialised community organisation. Notably, this news is neither from Pakistan nor any Muslim-majority country; it originates from Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. The incident raises significant questions about the response of local authorities, particularly in light of a large crowd gathering without official authorization.

So, the questions are quite straightforward. What was the administration doing when over 100 people gathered, and the police seemed unaware? Does this surprise you? Or were the police constrained by the Congress-led Karnataka government? It was only when the video went viral that the police finally took action, resulting in the arrest of just 11 individuals.

The Cubbon Park police in Bengaluru has booked 11 persons, including a member of the Bahutva Karnataka (a citizen’s group), and other unnamed people for holding a solidarity gathering in support of Palestine on M G Road without permission from the competent authorities Monday evening.

The accused have been booked under IPC Section 188 (Disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant), 283 (Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation), 290 (committing public nuisance), 291 (repeating a public nuisance despite injunction) and 149 (unlawful assembly).

The accused include Fahad Khan, Imran Babu, Mohammad Ashwas, Syed Abbas, Leo John, Mohammed Saifuddin, Mohammed Ismail, Shoheb, Vinay Sreenivas, Babu Prakash, Umar and others.

The city police who have taken suo moto cognisance have stated in the FIR that the Bahutva Karnataka had convened a large gathering through a WhatsApp group under the movement ‘Join us in Solidary With Palestine and Say No to Genocide and Occupation’ near the Rangoli Metro Art Station on M G Road. According to the FIR, nearly 100-150 people gathered with placards, shouted slogans and protested without obtaining any permission from the competent authorities.

Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda, addressing the media, said, “The gathering was a flash mob that was mobilised mainly through WhatsApp. People who gathered were booked because protests and demonstrations are not allowed in the city, except in Freedom Park, as per High Court directions. They also did not seek any permission for the gathering and caused inconvenience to the public and traffic movement. A total of 25 people were taken in preventive custody.”