In the aftermath of the 2022 Hubballi riots, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has taken action by addressing a letter to the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Hitendra, in which he requests the withdrawal of the riot cases from that year. This communication from Shivakumar has subsequently been forwarded to the home department for further consideration.
ADGP Hitendra, in response to DK Shivakumar's letter, has initiated the process by requesting the Hubballi Police Commissioner to provide relevant information regarding the case. This includes documents related to the withdrawal of the old Hubballi case, such as FIRs (First Information Reports), chargesheets, and witness statements.
The 2022 Hubballi riot, which occurred on April 16, was triggered by the circulation of a graphic photo on WhatsApp depicting a saffron flag on top of a mosque. This incident led to a gathering of thousands of Muslims in front of the old Huballi police station to protest, eventually escalating into violence. Law enforcement authorities subsequently filed 12 FIRs and arrested 158 individuals in connection with the riots.
Presently, seven juvenile offenders, including AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) corporator Nazir Honya, have been granted bail, while 151 Muslim individuals accused in the case remain incarcerated in Bellary and Kalaburagi Prisons. It's worth noting that Abhishek, who posted the contentious WhatsApp status, was also arrested. Despite the arrests of the accused, a group of individuals gathered in front of the police station and engaged in stone-pelting incidents targeting the police station itself, a hospital, a temple, and residences.
This action from DK Shivakumar follows earlier efforts by Congress MLA Tanveer Sait, who had written to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, calling for a review of the arrests made in connection with the 2020 Bengaluru riots. Those riots had been incited by an inflammatory Facebook post targeting Islam. In response to Sait's request, the state home minister initiated an inquiry. Subsequently, various ministers began corresponding with the police and the home department, offering their recommendations, after the Karnataka Congress government announced plans to revisit riot-related cases.
Despite these requests, it's important to note that the withdrawal of cases involves a structured process. A Cabinet sub-committee has been established to assess such proposals. Before these proposals are submitted to the committee, the home department conducts an initial evaluation, with legal experts and department experts reviewing the merits. The final decision lies with the Home Minister, who chairs the committee, and any recommendations that align with the legal framework may result in case withdrawals, while others may be sent back for further consideration by the Cabinet.
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