The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to hit the streets on Wednesday in protest against the arrest of Hindu activist Srikanth Poojary in a 31-year-old case. Poojari was arrested by the Karnataka Police in Hubbali on Friday in connection with a case linked to the 1992 riots ahead of the Babri Masjid demolition.
Terming the arrest as the Siddaramaiah government’s witch-hunt against Hindus ahead of the Ram Temple inauguration, the BJP says the arrest comes as a reminder of the “anti-Hindu” mindset of the Congress party. The Congress and the state police, on the other hand, claim that the arrest was part of a routine drive to dispose of pending cases.
“Arresting Poojary at a time when crores of Hindu activists are eagerly awaiting the inauguration of the Ram Temple reflects the anti-Hindu stance of the Congress,” BJP’s state unit chief BY Vijayendra told the media yesterday.
“As Hindus celebrate the Ram Mandir, the Congress’s cowardly move reflects their refusal to accept the reality of the Ram Mandir. This witch hunt against Hindus is highly condemnable,” the BJP said in a post on X.
Why was Poojary arrested?
Poojary’s arrest on Friday came in a case of arson reported at Hubbali on the eve of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. A complaint was filed against Poojary by Hajratsab Maliksab Angadi at Hubli (now Hubballi) Town Police Station, who claimed that several shops, including his, had been set on fire on December 5. Angadi alleged he had suffered losses to the tune of Rs 80,000 due to the arson on his premises, from which he ran a betel nut and tobacco business.
An FIR in the case was filed against more than 10 people, with Poojary listed as accused number 3. The accused were booked under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) and 427 (loss or damage property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). A chargesheet in connection with the case was filed in 1993.
Several co-accused were tried and granted bail in the last 6 years. However, Poojary and another accused were declared as absconders after they missed their appearance in court.
According to Manjunath Poojari, Srikanth’s son, some policemen took his father from his house saying he needed to be interrogated in connection with a few cases. “I was shocked and went to the police station with him. After reaching the spot, I came to know that it was connected to a rioting incident in 1992. As my father’s both hands have been operated on, I requested the police to release him on station bail, but they produced him before court, which sent him to judicial custody,” he said.