Karnataka’s law and order is under fire after former minister B. Shriramulu wrote to Amit Shah demanding an NIA-led inquiry into the Bagalkot clashes during a Shivaji procession. The communication raises alarms over repeated violence against Hindu workers, cross-cases, and the urgent need for centralized intervention.
Shriramulu lambasted the pattern of disputes near public events, where Hindu-linked youth suffer attacks and subsequent framing via counter-FIRs. Framing his request under Article 355, he sought standardized prevention, oversight of investigations, and prosecution monitoring to safeguard against state-level breakdowns.
On February 20, stone-throwing disrupted the Bagalkot old city rally, resulting in police action, arrests, and prohibitory orders till February 28. Forces were bolstered in sensitive spots with widespread notices, exposing gaps in event oversight and proactive measures.
He invoked recent precedents like the Mandya riots, Suhas Shetty’s Mangaluru slaying, and a Koppal youth attack to illustrate intel lapses and weak follow-through in communal cases.
Shriramulu’s roadmap includes a tripartite review meeting to scrutinize high-risk districts and enforcement. An SOP framework would standardize permits, routes, no-entry buffers, organizer undertakings, peace panels, live monitoring, security mapping, and reviews—fortifying Karnataka against future conflicts.