Bengaluru cops arrest right-wing activist Puneeth Kerehalli for trespassing, threatening landlord

A senior police officer said that both the accused, Puneeth Kerehalli and his associate Dr Nagendrappa, have been produced before the magistrate and that Bannerghatta police acted on a complaint filed by Siddesh, a resident of Doddathoguru on the outskirts of the city.

Bengaluru: High drama prevailed outside the Bannerghatta police station on Friday night after the police arrested right-wing activist Puneeth Kerehalli on charges of trespassing and threatening a landlord on the premises of private property.

The arrested have been identified as Puneeth Kerehalli (34) and his associate Dr Nagendrappa (38).

A senior police officer said that both the accused have been produced before the magistrate and that Bannerghatta police acted on a complaint filed by Siddesh, a resident of Doddathoguru on the outskirts of the city.

The incident took place on January 13, at S Bingipura village. In his complaint, Siddesh, a landlord alleged that Kerehalli abused and threatened him, accusing him of renting out his house to suspected Bangladeshi migrants. Kerehalli confronted him aggressively and questioned whether he was unaware of the background of his tenants.

Dr Nagendrappa was also arrested for calling people to protest in the locality, following the arrest of Kerehalli. However, a group of Hindu activists rushed to the Bannerghatta police station and staged a protest against the police action against Kerehalli.

Tension escalated when the police took Kerehalli to produce him before a court, with protesters raising slogans against the police and accusing them of targeting the activist. Supporters shouted slogans and attempted to block the police vehicle, following which they were taken into preventive custody.

Police personnel were deployed in large numbersto maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident in the area.