37 accused in jail over DJ Halli riots in Bengaluru

Relatives seek their release by contacting DK Shivakumar

They Dy CM is holding Janaspandana event

Years after the DJ Halli riots that hit Bengaluru, relatives of the accused approach Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar at the Janaspandana programme and sought his intervention in the release of as many as 37 accused. 

Speaking to NewsFirst Prime, the wife of an accused said, “My husband has been incarcerated for 4 years now. UAPA has been invoked. Srinivas, a politician, assured me of getting him released earlier during the elections, but till date, nothing has fructified.” 

The sister of another accused said, “My brother is jailed. At that point in time (riots), he was painting the house and was getting ready to drop a patient. He was absolutely not aware of the riots taking place outside.” 

Another accused’s wife said, “My husband has been arrested. At the point of riots, he was at home. But the police have arrested him. I have two children. It is so difficult for me to take care of the boys. We didn’t do anything wrong. My husband is innocent.” 

A note on the riots

An angry mob resorted to riots over a blasphemous post on Muhammad on Facebook put out by the relative of Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, a Congress MLA at that point in time. 

After police were forced to open fire to control the frenzied mob, 3 people lost their lives.