'Should We Leave Them?': Karnataka CM After Backlash Over Arrest Of Babri Masjid Demolition Agitator

The accused Poojary was 20 years old at the time of the riots.

However, Karnataka BJP accused the Congress of creating terror among Hindu activists.

After the Karnataka police arrested a 50-year-old man allegedly involved in the riots following the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah questioned what should be done to the wrongdoers. He added that the police have taken action accordingly. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar clarified that the arrest was made during a routine police procedure to trace the accused in cases over time. However, Karnataka BJP accused the Congress of creating terror among Hindu activists.

The accused Poojary was arrested by Karnataka police in connection with the case on Friday. Poojary was reportedly 20 years old at the time of the riots.

On the arrest, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, "What should be done to the wrongdoers? Should we just leave them? We have told the police to dispose of the old cases. The police have taken action accordingly. We have not done any hate politics. No innocents have been arrested. We will take things forward according to the court's direction."

On the arrest of a person in Karnataka's Hubballi for alleged involvement in the riots after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says "What should be done to the wrongdoers? Should we just leave them? We have told the police to dispose of the old cases.… pic.twitter.com/NTrBSWHn7P

— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2024

Hubballi- Dharwad Police Commissioner Renuka Sukumar said, "In many cases, the accused go absconding... From time to time, it is a routine police procedure that in such cases, we make the effort to trace the accused...In one such case of riot which was reported in 1992, we apprehended an accused. For us, it is just another riot case..."

Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra said "Karnataka govt is proving again and again that it is an anti-Hindu Govt. Yesterday in Hubballi, they reopened a 31-year-old case and Hindu worker Srikant Poojari was arrested, we strongly condemn this. We are calling for a huge protest throughout the state mainly in Freedom Park tomorrow against the Anti-Hindu govt, Anti-Hindu Siddaramaiah..."

On December 6, 1992, right-wing Hindu activists demolished the Babri Masjid, a 16th-century mosque located in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The site is considered to be the birthplace of Lord Ram, a significant deity in the Hindu religion. The demolition of the mosque led to widespread communal tensions and has remained a contentious issue in Indian politics.