Attempt to murder RSS worker, 6 held in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 17: A Bengaluru terror module has been busted with the arrest of six members of the Social Democratic Party of India who had allegedly attempted to kill an RSS worker on December 22 for taking part in a pro-CAA rally, police said on Friday.
The arrested have been identified as Irfan, Syed Akbar, Syed Siddiqui, Akbar Basha, Sanaulla and Sadiq Amin alias 'Sound Amin', all residents of KG Halli in the city, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao told reporters here.
BJP Bengaluru south MP Tejasvi Surya and right wing leader Chakravarthy Sulibele were among the prominent speakers at last month's pro-Citizenship Amendment Act rally.
According to Rao, the SDPI members reached the venue on three stolen motorcycles. They wanted to storm into the crowd initially but due to heavy police presence, they could not.
They wanted to create a panic situation by hurling stones so that people will flee deserting their leaders making it easier to eliminate their targets, the commissioner said.
However, the stones missed the target.
They later decided to zero in on RSS worker Varun who was supplying water and taking care of the participants at the rally.When he was on his way home, the SDPI activists waylaid and attacked him, Rao said.
According to the commissioner, Varun survived due to timely medical assistance.
They wanted to carry out the act to create a lot of disturbance in the city, Rao said.
"All of them are from the SDPI and they wanted to carry out the dastardly act to create lot of disturbance in Bengaluru City on December 22," Rao told reporters here.
They were being paid Rs 10,000 per month from their handlers to carry out their agenda, the commissioner said, adding the matter has now been handed over to the Anti-Terror Squad.
In addition to it, a Special Investigation Team will be formed to ensure that such people do not create any disturbance, Rao said.
"We are not going to spare anyone whoever their handlers and financiers are whether inside the country or outside.I am constituting an SIT to see that such people do not create any disturbance," Rao said.
The arrested members were all radicalised and their agenda was to recruit cadres, train and radicalise them, cause destruction and kill prominent people to cause mass disturbance in the city, he said.
"We have named them as the Bengaluru terror module of chapter-1. All of them are in our custody. They wanted to kill the main speakers of the event (pro-Citizenship Amendment Act rally)," Rao said.
After the incident, a special team was formed which examined footage of more than 700 CCTV cameras, identified and nabbed the perpetrators of the crime.
Besides registering a case of attempt to murder, cases have been booked against them for creating enmity between two religious communities and under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Rao said.
Reacting to the arrest, Tejasvi Surya said "SDPI is an organisation, which has not been banned yet. The SDPI has become strong because the then chief minister Siddaramaiah dropped cases against its members."
He called the arrest only a tip of the iceberg and said he would bring the activities of the SDPI to the notice of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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Kharge visits Krishna under treatment in Bengaluru hospital, wishes him speedy recovery
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday paid a visit to veteran politician and former chief minister S M Krishna, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, and wished him a speedy recovery.
The hospital where the 91-year-old was admitted last week said he had come in with a "minor ailment" and is medically stable.
He is recovering well and there is no need for worry, Manipal Hospitals said, adding that he is being treated by a team of medical experts.
"S M Krishna is our former chief minister; I have worked with him as minister in the state, he was minister with me at the Centre. On getting to know about his ill health I have come to see him and wish him a speedy recovery and quick improvement in his health," Kharge said.
While speaking to reporters here after meeting Krishna, he said, "He is improving, he is speaking and enquired with me as to when I came and other things. There is improvement. He has had a disciplined life since the beginning; naturally he will improve quickly. He is strong mentally and physically. Doctors also are taking care."
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too had visited the elderly Congress leader at the hospital yesterday evening and enquired about his health.
Krishna was reportedly admitted to another super-speciality hospital in the city earlier this month, as he suffered an acute respiratory infection, and was discharged after treatment.
Krishna was chief minister from October 11, 1999 to May 28, 2004. He has also served as External Affairs Minister during the Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance government from 2009 to 2012, and also as Maharashtra Governor.
