Bengaluru: Opposition Leader R. Ashok has heavily criticised the Congress government in the state, accusing them of endangering police officers’ safety and morale. He stated, “There is no protection for officers in the state. The morale of the police has drastically dropped. On one hand, the government is controlled by the sand mafia, and on the other, the minister is defending the accused involved in the Mysore incident.”
Ashok expressed his frustration during a protest held on Wednesday in front of the Kengal Hanumanthaiah statue at Vidhana Soudha, where he condemned the attack on Udayagiri police station in Mysore. “Even though the Udayagiri police station was attacked, the police were not provided with adequate protection. Such incidents have severely lowered the morale of the officers. We have requested the Director General of Police to ensure that loyal officers and police personnel are given proper protection,” Ashok said.
He continued, “The Vidhana Soudha, which should be a place of protection for loyal officers, has turned into a silent palace. Former CM Kengal Hanumanthaiah once said that government work is God’s work, but under the Congress, it has turned into the work of demons. A female officer who tried to stop the sand mafia in Bhadravati has been threatened with death and abused. The government is controlled by the mafia, and as a result, officials are unable to work effectively. There has been a clear attempt to cover up these incidents. The president of the government employees’ association should take to the streets and fight, rather than issuing statements,” Ashok demanded.
ವಿಧಾನಸೌಧದ ಕೆಂಗಲ್ ಹನುಮಂತಯ್ಯ ಪ್ರತಿಮೆ ಬಳಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಮೇಲೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯ ಖಂಡಿಸಿ
ಪ್ರತಿಭಟನೆ ನಡೆಸಲಾಯಿತು.ಸರ್ಕಾರಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ನೀಡಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ತಮ್ಮ ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ ನಿರ್ವಹಿಸಲು ಭಯ ಮುಕ್ತ ವಾತಾವರಣ ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುವ ನಿಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು ಎಂದು ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಮಹಾ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರಿಗೆ… pic.twitter.com/UZcxkd3Fws
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) February 12, 2025
The Opposition Leader also pointed out the government’s selective actions, saying, “Immediate action was taken against Legislative Council member CT Ravi, but no one has been arrested in the Mysore case. Instead, police officers are being blamed for the incident.” He further alleged that pressure had been exerted on the female officer from Bhadravati, who, out of fear, had refrained from filing a complaint. “Even if she does file a complaint, the government will not stand by her,” Ashok said.
Ashok strongly criticized cooperative Minister Rajanna’s comments about the police, saying, “Minister Rajanna has questioned who gave the star to the police officer. The star was given by the people of this state. The police are paid with taxpayers’ money, not with the minister’s money. If there are concerns about the police, they should be called into the office and addressed properly. But publicly abusing them like this undermines their confidence. How can the police work with full dedication if they are treated like this?”
CCB Police Arrest 8 Accused in Udayagiri Stone-Pelting Incident
The aftermath of last night’s riots in Udayagiri, Mysore, has left the area in ruins. The CCB police, who had laid a strategic trap for the perpetrators of the stone-pelting incident at the Udayagiri police station, have successfully arrested eight individuals. The arrested suspects include Suhel, Rahil Pasha, Ayan, Aijaz (Satyanagar), Syed Sadiq (Gausianagar), Sadiq Pasha alias Sadiq, Arbaaz Sharif, and Shoheb Pasha (Rajiv Nagar). Investigations continue as the police aim to arrest more suspects involved in the violent outburst.
The incident began when the police attempted to arrest the accused last night. They went door-to-door using tower location data to track the suspects, but the individuals fled their homes, leaving their mobile phones behind. The CCB police are now leading the investigation, having seized over 10 CCTV camera DVRs from the Udayagiri police station road as part of their evidence-gathering process.
The police are exploring all possible angles, including the theory that a provocative statement made by Mufti Mushtaq Maqbooli could have sparked the riots. A viral audio clip has emerged where Mushtaq allegedly made inflammatory remarks, including threats and calls for immediate arrests and severe punishment. The police have launched a search for Mushtaq, suspecting his incitement to be a significant factor in the unrest.
Minister Rajanna’s Blame on Police Refuted by DCM
In the wake of the violence, Minister KN Rajanna had blamed the police for the riot. However, this statement was promptly rejected by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who affirmed that the police were not at fault. “As the Deputy Chief Minister, I can confidently state that the police are not to blame for this incident,” Shivakumar declared, distancing the government from Rajanna’s remarks.
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities intensifying their efforts to bring those responsible for the violence to justice.
Moulvi provocative speech reason for attack?
A video of a cleric giving a provocative speech before the stone-pelting incident in Udayagiri has gone viral, leading to significant attention from law enforcement. The cleric, identified as Mufti Mushtaq Maqbooli, was seen holding a microphone while delivering a speech that prompted a police search for him.
In his speech, he expressed strong sentiments about religious commitment, stating, “There are still Muslims who live for religion. The commitment to protecting religion was there yesterday and is there today. We will give our lives by shouting all the slogans. Muslims are always being targeted.” He also made inflammatory remarks about an individual named Suresh, saying, “A dog named Suresh, a harami named Suresh. He posted badly about my owner. He should be arrested immediately. He should be hanged, he should be given the death penalty.”
The cleric urged the Muslim community of Mysore to unite, saying, “What do you want? He should be given the death penalty. All the Muslims of Mysore should unite. We need to give a befitting reply to this. If necessary, we will cut off our heads.” His statements included a provocative call to action regarding the safety of their children, stating that they would “sacrifice the heads of our children.”
The speech has sparked outrage and raised concerns about communal tensions in the region. Authorities are examining the implications of the cleric’s statements and have initiated efforts to locate him for questioning.
Former MP Pratap Simha urged Combing operation
Former MP Pratap Simha has made alarming statements regarding an attack on a police station, attributing the action to “hooligan Muslims.” He emphasized that such attacks on law enforcement have become a recurring issue, linking them to the descendants of historical figures like Tipu Sultan.
Simha criticised the current administration led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, claiming that the chaos is indicative of the government’s inefficacy and that it does not represent the interests of Kannadigas. He described the Siddaramaiah government as akin to a “Taliban government” and accused the authorities of acting under the influence of the ruling party, thereby allowing a climate where such violence can occur unchecked.
He further alleged that Siddaramaiah has granted Muslims the freedom to engage in violent acts, suggesting this behavior reflects poorly on his leadership. Simha questioned the motivations of Muslims in Udayagiri and asserted that there should be consequences for their actions. He urged the police to take decisive action to restore order in the Udayagiri area.
Moreover, Simha expressed skepticism about the longevity of Siddaramaiah’s tenure as Chief Minister and urged him to intensify his efforts to maintain peace and governance, condemning the stone-pelting incidents as representative of a cultural issue within the Muslim community. His rhetoric has heightened tensions and drawn sharp reactions from various quarters, reflecting the ongoing communal divides in the region.
