Hubballi violence: Families want 'innocent' relatives freed, else they won't vote in May 10 polls
Bengaluru/Hubballi (PTI): A year after 89 persons were arrested for allegedly indulging in violence at Karnataka's Hubballi, families of many of them claim their relatives are 'innocent,' insist they are unable to go through the bail procedures since they are illiterate and that they would boycott the May 10 Assembly polls if the accused "who did nothing wrong" are not released.
In April last year, 89 people were arrested after a mob went on the rampage over a social media post that saw a police station and a Hanuman temple coming under attack. The violence was allegedly triggered following a social media post of a digitally altered image of a saffron flag flying over a mosque.
Some of the families of those who are still in jail claim their children and relatives were 'innocent' and had "no role to play in the violence".
"Most of them who were arrested, were picked up by the police randomly. We are illiterate. We do not know how to apply for bail or approach the court to get our children released," some of the local residents said.
Mumtaz from Nava Anand Nagar in Hubballi, whose son was among the arrested and currently lodged in Kalaburagi jail, said she couldn't meet him in the last one year.
Claiming her son was not guilty, Mumtaz said she will not cast her vote until her ward is released from prison.
"My son used to drive an autorickshaw in Hubbali. The police arrested and took him to Kalaburagi jail and since then, I haven't heard his voice. It has been more than a year now. My son was innocent. I will not cast my vote until my son is released from jail," Mumtaz told PTI.
The incident in Hubballi was the fallout of the alleged social media post, which others objected to and lodged a police complaint. Subsequently, the person who made the post was arrested after a case was registered.
According to the family members of the accused, those who are lodged in the jail had written a letter to their community leaders, urging them to convey their message to the Centre and release them at the earliest.
"Three of my sons got arrested and one of them is in jail for the last 11 months. My children were not guilty in this incident. I will not cast my vote until my son is freed," Shamshad from Nava Anand Nagar said.
She added around 50 people were arrested from Nava Anand Nagar area after the violence.
Speaking about the case, Karnataka ADGP Alok Kumar said granting bail depends on the seriousness of the case and quality of evidence, among others.
"Several of the arrested were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Granting bail to the accused depends on the seriousness of the case, extent of law and quality of evidence, whether it is on video or pictures," Alok Kumar told PTI.
Mehboobi from Nava Anand Nagar, a widow and the sole earner of the family, claimed her son was not guilty.
"My son was not involved in the violence, yet he was arrested. My husband passed away and I have to take care of the family all by myself," Mehboobi said.
Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had dismissed the allegations that innocent people were being held in connection with the Hubballi violence and said arrests were made based on evidence.
"No innocent person has been arrested. Based on evidence, people have been arrested," he had said.
Batul from Nava Anand Nagar, whose husband was arrested last year in connection with the violence, also claims he was innocent.
She said she couldn't approach the court for bail as she is illiterate and that she did not receive help from anyone to have a fair trial for her husband.
"My husband was arrested last year after the violence took place in Hubballi. I have two children and run the family by myself. I am illiterate, and hence, I couldn't approach the court for my husband's bail. There was no one to help me out. This is unfair. I will not cast my vote until he is released," Batul told PTI.
Speaking about the mob violence and its aftermath in Hubballi, Human Rights activist Clifton D' Rozario said that as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the case, the provisions make it difficult for people to get bail and the "innocents suffer."
"The Hubballi mob violence case has been taken over by the NIA and under this provision, getting bail is very difficult. Innocents held in such cases suffer. Applying for bail is a right," Rozario said.
When asked about the families who are refusing to cast their votes in Hubballi, Congress candidate (Hubballi-Dharwad Central) Jagadish Shettar claimed he has always coordinated with all communities and ensured peace in the region.
"It is a legal matter but ever since I have been elected here in 1994, I have coordinated with all communities and ensured peace in this area," Shettar told PTI.
Shettar, who quit the BJP recently, was first elected to the state Assembly in 1994 and has won for six times in Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
