Bengaluru:

The Congress government in Karnataka has decided to withdraw a criminal case registered against a mob which had attacked policemen with stones on April 16, 2022, in Hubballi town. This was one of the 43 cases the state Cabinet decided to withdraw at its meeting on Thursday following a petition by the Anjuman-e-Islam to the Home Minister G Parameshwara, official sources said.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday described the government’s decision as the “height of appeasement.”

“Unfortunately, the Congress party here in Karnataka has reached the height of appeasement. They have withdrawn the case under the (anti-terror law) UAPA, when the matter is before the NIA court. In normal course, as far as I know, the state cannot withdraw it but they have still withdrawn it,” Mr Joshi said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “The government has the power to withdraw some cases. There is a Cabinet subcommittee under the Home Minister’s leadership, as per their discretion they have taken the decision and the Cabinet has approved it. I will see what it is.”

On BJP planning a protest against the decision in Hubballi in north Karnataka, Mr Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru: “BJP always protests about false issues, not true ones…”

According to the police, an accused had allegedly posted derogatory content on social media. “Upset with the post, nearly 150 people from the minority community armed with stones and clubs gathered near the Old Hubballi Town police station around 10.30 pm on April 16, 2022,” a police official said.

“They were demanding that the police hand over the accused to them so that they can finish him off right there. They also warned that whoever would protect the accused would not be spared and allegedly raised slogans to kill policemen protecting him,” the official said.

The police inspector tried to persuade them to give up their “adamant stand” and disperse but they wanted to barge into the police station, the sources said.

The mob then attacked policemen with clubs and stones and injured many of them on duty, and also damaged several government and private vehicles.

“Accordingly, the Old Hubballi Town police registered a case of rioting, attempted murder, attacking government officers, damaging government and public properties and also under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against the accused,” the official said. 

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