The Tech city Bengaluru faced riots this week over a derogatory social media post about Prophet Muhammad. The capital, Karnataka saw some major riots in the past few years as well, which clearly indicates the route followed up the last few days in the city were not unpredictable.
1- Cauvery Riot- 2016
In 2016, riots broke out in Bengaluru over Cauvery water sharing issue. This topic caused disturbance for the second time here when the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka to release 15000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu till 20 September 2016. Local police tried to control miscreants but rioters set 35 buses ablaze at a Depot, blocked roads to Tamil Nadu, shut down the shops and property of Tamilians. People went violent on streets with slogans and flags of Karnataka. Near about 20 policemen were injured and 1 person died in police firing.
2- The Exodus to Northeast-2012
In August 2012, ethnic clashes of Assam led to tension in Bengaluru. The city has quite a good number of northeastern occupants as residents. Fear broke out over an alleged plan to attack the migrants. 10,000 train tickets were sold out overnight even after assurance of no harm by then in power, of the BJP government.
3- The People’s Front Party Riots-2007
In January 2007, Jaffer Sharief broke from the Congress Party and planned a massive rally to launch the People’s Front Party. The rally was planned on 19 January which was two days after the birthday celebration of M.S Golwalkar by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Outraged Sharief’s supporters burnt RSS posters ahead of the rally which faced much-expected retaliation by RSS where Muslim households, shops, vehicles were attacked. One person was killed in this riot.
4- Death of Kannada Superstar Rajkumar-2006
On April 12, 2006 Kannada Superstar and strong representative of Kannada culture Rajkumar passed away. People’s emotions turned into impulsiveness in Rajkumar’s grief ceremony. People became outrageous when only a few people were allowed to come where his remains were kept. A full-fledged protest started, people pelted stones, torched vehicles, attacked shops. Four petrol pumps and cinema theatres were torched, 1000 vehicles were ablazed. Eight people died and police constable Manjunath Malladi was lynched.
5- Riot over Urdu Bulletin-1994
In 1994, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti Kannada Government aired news in Urdu for 10 minutes. This was supposedly a political stunt of then Cheif Minister Veerappa Moilu to gain Muslim votes on assembly election. A protest started against that 10-minute bulletin and turned into a whole communal riot. Rioters attacked the Muslim dominating areas and almost 25 people were killed.
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