Amid growing unrest, B. Shriramulu, ex-minister from Karnataka, has fired off a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah seeking NIA intervention in the Bagalkot violence case. He questions the state’s ability to maintain order, pointing to a disturbing trend of assaults on Hindu youth and questionable counter-charges that undermine justice.
In his detailed missive, Shriramulu described frequent scuffles during processions in sensitive locales, with Hindu activists bearing the brunt through violence and legal harassment. He clarified the plea isn’t to bias probes but to enforce uniform standards under constitutional mandates, preventing internal state disruptions.
The February 20 incident in Bagalkot’s old town saw the Shivaji Jayanti rally pelted with stones, prompting arrests and a curfew extension to February 28. Heightened security and notices followed, but Shriramulu called for better route management, pre-ban options, and intel-based tension reduction.
Referencing Mandya violence in September 2024, Mangaluru’s Suhas Shetty murder, and Koppal assault, he highlighted patterns of failure in intel, prosecution, and riot control. Families of victims from Hindu groups express alarm over perceived targeting.
To address this, Shriramulu pushed for a review meeting with Karnataka’s Home Department and DGP. Key to his SOP blueprint: procession approvals with timelines, buffer zones around hotspots, real-time protocols, peace committee minutes, and periodic audits—aiming for a safer, more equitable framework.