Various Hindutva organizations observed a bandh in Kolar on Thursday, November 18 in protest against stone pelting at a bus carrying a group of Sri Ram Sena members last week. The pro-Hindu groups called for a bandh, despite the arrest of 12 individuals who were allegedly involved in the stone-pelting incident.
In the meanwhile, the district administration has restrained Sri Ram Sena chief, Pramod Muthalik, from entering the district.
On November 13, Saturday, Sri Rama Sena members donning religious attire were en route to Datta Peeta in Chikkamagaluru in a minibus around 11 pm. The Sena members were chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans and continued the chants while passing through a Muslim residential area when the bus was hurled with stones, it is learned.
The city police, who arrived at the site helped prevent further escalation of the situation. Later, Sri Rama Sena members protested in front of the police station demanding the arrests of the stone pelters.
Eye Witness Accounts
Speaking to The Cognate, a source said, “Last Saturday the Sri Ram Sena members were to arrive at Datta Peeta in a bus. The group stopped the bus by the ‘Clock Tower’, which is a Muslim dense locality, and began shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans displaying their flags. When they reached a little further crossing the bridge, near the toll gate, which is also a Muslim area, they began shouting provocative slogans even in that area. A couple of young blood between the ages of 15 -17 were present in the area who were provoked with the sloganeering and they resorted to pelting stones at the bus window breaking the glass.”
“Later they were all taken to the police station and 10 to 12 people were arrested and FIR’s were registered. In the FIR, it was written as over 100 Muslims. But the police have arrested 10-12 people. Now they are citing that they will impose bandh on Jummah night claiming that Hindutva group members were harmed, but the reality is arrests have already been made. To create polarization and communal tension, they are doing this”, the source explained.
On Wednesday, several pro-Hindu organizations undertook a bike rally in the town raising slogans. They called for the bandh call on Thursday.
Tense situation in Kolar city as hindutva forces have called for Bandh Friday (Tommorow). Today more than 1000s of Sanghparivar members wer found rallying in Kolar city chanting fear instilling slogans in public. This needs to be stopped before any damage is done.@DgpKarnataka pic.twitter.com/w5FxqQIhWN— Undefeated_Faith (@Shaad_Bajpe) November 17, 2021
The Anjuman Islamia Committee from Kolar reportedly went to the station and met with station officials. During the discussion, they assured that they would see to it that no law and order problems will take place in the area. Anjuman Committee met Muslim leaders in Kolar, and along with leaders from the SDPI, Popular Front of India, they met the DC and SP.
According to the source, “The police has explained that they cannot stop the Bandh but assured that they will not let the protesters use force in the Muslim area. They have ensured that if that happens, cases will be immediately filed against the perpetrators.”
Kolar Deputy Commissioner Dr R Selvamani has issued an order banning the entry of Pramod Muthalik from entering the district from November 18 to 2 4. He has also placed a ban on playing the audio and video speeches of Muthalik, who has a history of inciting violence.
