Key Points
- Karnataka government drops cases against AIMIM leader Mohammed Arif and 138 others.
- Charges included attempted murder and rioting related to the Hubballi riots in April 2022.
- Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar initiated the withdrawal despite opposition objections.
- BJP criticizes the decision as appeasement towards Muslims.
- The riots were sparked by a derogatory social media post, leading to significant violence.
Looma News
The Karnataka government just made a pretty wild move by dropping criminal cases against AIMIM leader Mohammed Arif and 138 others tied to the 2022 Hubballi riots. These guys were hit with some serious charges, like leading a mob against the cops and inciting violence. Can you believe it? Now they’ve dropped charges like attempted murder, and it’s causing a big fuss.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar kicked this whole thing off back in October 2023. He told the police to take a second look at the cases and suggested they drop the charges. Naturally, this didn’t sit well with the opposition, especially the BJP, which is calling it a classic case of appeasement politics. They’re saying Congress is cuddling up to “terrorists” while other important cases against farmers and students just sit there collecting dust.
The Background
Let’s rewind to April 16, 2022, when the riots broke out. It all started over a controversial social media post with a saffron flag on a mosque, which really ticked off a lot of folks in the Muslim community. What began as a peaceful protest outside the Old Hubballi Police Station quickly turned into a full-on riot, with thousands involved and four cops getting injured.
This recent decision to drop the cases adds another layer of drama to the ongoing political clash in Karnataka. It’s clear that the impact will be felt not just in the courts but also in the bigger political scene.
