Police take Simha, Hindu activists into custody

The city police on Thursday took Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pratap Simha and activists of pro-Hindu organisations into custody for staging a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The agitation was being held as part of a state-wide protest against Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

Both the DC’s office and the Kalamandira — the venues of the protest by BJP members and the celebrations respectively — had turned into fortresses. While movement of people was banned on all roads leading to the DC’s office, with blockades, people were welcome at the Kalamandira, but under the watchful eyes of the Police personnel. As a preventive measure, the police arrested nearly 35 people who were demanding that the state government suspend Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

Former MLC Go Madhusudhan alleged that Tipu had written to Afghanistan King Ahmad Shah Abdali to attack India. “Tipu was anti-India, he had killed thousands of Kodavas, Nayaka community people and several Christians,” he stated and alleged that the state government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, was celebrating the jayanti to appease Muslims.

The police took all the agitators into custody and led them to the City Armed Reserve (CAR) grounds after they refused to withdraw the protest. Former minister and MLC C H Vijayashankar, Deputy Mayor Vanita Prasanna, and Karnataka State Hotel Owners Association president M Rajendra were present.

As a precautionary measure, the police had obtained surety from 96 persons and had also installed CCTV cameras at sensitive areas. Meanwhile, security was beefed up in parts of the city. Three deputy commissioners of police and two assistant commissioners of police supervised the security arrangements. The police had deputed 680 home guards, four Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and City Armed Reserve (CAR) battalions, 30 commandos and 20 mounted police and other police force to maintain law and order in the city. The police stated that no untoward incident had been reported during the celebrations in the city.