CAA protestors from Kerala behind Mangaluru violence': Karnataka minister
20 Dec 2019
People from neighbouring Kerala brought to Mangalore indulged in violence during protests against the amended citizenship law, Karnataka home minister Basavaraj Bommai claimed on Thursday.
The Karnataka government suspended mobile internet services for 48 hours in Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada district after reports of violence.
In fact, the police in Mangaluru arrested some media persons with suspicious accreditation cards, although they were let off later.
"People who had come from Kerala to participate in the protest also tried to set fire to a police station in Mangaluru and damaged public property. To control the mob, police had to use force," Bommai told reporters.
The minister also warned that strict action will be taken against those indulging in violence and spreading rumours. Police have also confirmed the death of two protesters who succumbed to injuries following incidents of violence.
Reports citing hospital sources said two persons who were critically injured in police firing, succumbed to bullet injuries.
The protest march was held peacefully in most parts of Karnataka but there was violence in Mangaluru. Some of the people came from Kerala and they misled students and instigated violence, he alleged.
The home minister also said the state government will take action against anti-social elements.
The Karnataka government suspended mobile internet services for 48 hours in Mangaluru and Dakshina Kannada district after reports of violence.
Mobile Internet services have been suspended in the two places, a state Home Ministry order said.
It has been done because protesters are likely to use social media platforms for spreading rumours and also for transmission of information like pictures, videos and text that "have the potential to inflame passions and thus exacerbate the law and order situation", it said.