Kumaraswamy releases video on Mangaluru violence; raises suspicion, blames police and BJP govt
Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) Karnataka President HD Kumaraswamy on Friday released a 25 minutes’ video showing visuals of how things panned out on December 19 in Mangaluru when the anti-CAA, NRC Protest turned violent in the city and claimed two lives as a result of police action.
Kumaraswamy, during a press meet held in JP Bhavan in Bengaluru, claimed that the video footage raised suspicion over the possible involvement of the police in the violence.
"Who empowered the Mangaluru police to open fire on protesters? The government and the police were wrong in doing so" said Kumaraswamy, who released 35 video clips (in a compact disc) of the police firing.
Slamming Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Kumaraswamy reminded that Yediyurappa had become the chief minister to resolve problems of the people of Karnataka and not to please “his bosses in Delhi”. Kumaraswamy alleged innocent persons were also lathi-charged by the police during the clashes and that it was violation of human rights.
"Both the CM and police commissioner have different versions of the circumstances that led to the firing. The CM claimed police station was being attacked. But the police claimed the protesters were near a shop. The police station has the 360-degree camera. Has the camera not captured the alleged attack on the police station by protesters?" asked Kumaraswamy, also ridiculing the government for withholding the compensation announced for the victim's families.
The BJP came down heavily on Kumaraswamy, alleging he was trying to disturb peace by making baseless allegations. “The incident is being investigated and the videos of the attack on the police station and the violence... stone-pelting by miscreants, attack on police armoury and damaging CCTVs is all in the public domain. Kumaraswamy is trying to protect KFD and PFI members," said BJP MLA Harish Poonja.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
