3 FIRs, 6 arrests after Eid Milad procession sloganeering in Bengaluru triggers clash

On Wednesday, a confrontation erupted during an Eid Milad procession in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru. The clash occurred when a group led by right-wing activist Puneeth Kerehalli, carrying saffron flags, allegedly raised slogans as the Muslim community's procession moved past an apartment complex. This led to a scuffle, with a Scheduled Caste individual reportedly sustaining injuries, as per the police report.

The police intervened swiftly, leading to the arrest of six individuals, including Kerehalli, Gopi Gowda, and Vinod Nayak. Murali, the injured person from the Scheduled Caste community, was transported to Victoria Hospital. The detained trio were subsequently produced before a court on Thursday.

K Vamsi Krishna, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Bengaluru City, stated that personnel immediately brought the situation under control, preventing further escalation. The police have registered three cases against the arrested individuals, with the first case against Kerehalli, Gowda, and Nayak for promoting enmity between groups and other offenses.

Additionally, a counter case has been filed against three members of the Eid Milad procession - Kamal Pasha, Abubakar Siddique, and Syed Anas - based on Kerehalli's complaint under the SC/ST Act.

Two minors involved in the incident were also produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. The Basavanagudi Traffic Police registered a third FIR against Kerehalli for obstructing the public road and disrupting traffic after protesting on the road. Security has been heightened in and around Basavanagudi, with additional personnel deployed and continuous patrolling to prevent any further disturbances. The police are reviewing CCTV footage and gathering witness statements to investigate the matter thoroughly.