BJP MLA links Bengaluru crimes to ‘outsiders,’ calls for stricter policing

Yelahanka MLA and BJP leader SR Vishwanath has stirred controversy in the Karnataka Assembly by attributing Bengaluru’s rising crime rate to individuals from outside the state. He urged authorities to take stringent action against such offenders, even advocating for more forceful policing tactics.

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Addressing Home Minister G Parameshwara, Vishwanath questioned why ‘outsider’ criminals were not being dealt with more firmly. He controversially suggested that police should aim slightly above the leg while handling such criminals, implying harsher enforcement measures.

Citing specific cases, Vishwanath referenced a recent Holi brawl at Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, where Nepali nationals allegedly clashed violently using sticks and bottles, causing panic among visitors. Police arrested three suspects following the altercation.

He also highlighted the murder of three Bihar laborers at a construction site during Holi festivities. Two victims were found dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to injuries en route to the hospital.

Additionally, he recalled the gruesome case of Mahalakshmi, a woman murdered and dismembered by her boyfriend Mukti Ranjan Roy, a native of Odisha, whose remains were stored in a refrigerator.

Vishwanath’s statements have reignited debates on crime control in Bengaluru, with calls for stricter law enforcement. However, his remarks have also drawn criticism, with concerns that they may unfairly target migrant communities and disrupt social harmony.