NEW DELHI: At least three people were killed overnight in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru when police clashed with hundreds of Muslims who were protesting against an anti-Islam post on Facebook, police said on Wednesday.

Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said the protesters attacked a police station, burned public and police vehicles and also attacked the house of a local politician whose relative was accused of posting offensive remarks about Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

The post has since been deleted, he said.

Three people died in the police action and more than 110 people were arrested for attacking the police station, Pant said. He claimed police fired live ammunition in self-defence and to disperse the crowd after initially using tear gas and batons.

Pakistan urges the Indian government to take action against perpetrators of the hate crime

Pant said the person responsible for the Facebook post was arrested and a law prohibiting gatherings was imposed in the city, with a heavy police presence in some areas.

“Things are peaceful now,” he said.

The violence flared when angry Muslims came out on the streets and started protesting outside the politician’s house and the police station. The protesters turned violent, stoning vehicles and setting them on fire.

“What was written about the Prophet is the working of a sick mind with an intention to create violence,” Congress Party lawmaker Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Twitter.

“It is highly objectionable and such statements about any person revered by any community needs to be handled in the strictest way possible by the authorities.”

Police gave the first name of the accused man as Naveen, and said he is the nephew of another Congress politician, whose house was attacked and burnt in the violence.

The politician, R. Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, appealed for calm in a video message carried by media. “We’re all brothers. Whatever crime has been committed, let the law teach them a lesson,” Murthy said.

“I appeal to our Muslim brothers and everyone else to maintain peace.”

Foreign Office statement

The Foreign Office in Islamabad (FO) conveyed to the Indian High Commission the government’s anger and dismay over the issue. In a statement, the FO’s spokesperson said: “Pakistan has called upon the government of India to investigate the incident and take immediate action against the perpetrators of religious hatred. The government of India has also been called upon to ensure the safety, security and wellbeing of the minority communities, particularly Muslims….

“The offensive post against Islam has hurt Muslims and reflects the rising Islamophobia and targeting of the minority communities in India. The Indian police instead of preventing this hate crime against Muslims and Islam, used brute force, killed at least three protesters, and injured many more. As an added injustice, the Muslim community in the area is being falsely framed for alleged vandalism and assault on police personnel”.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020