9 Arrested and 3 FIRs Filed After Eid-Milad Procession Clash in Basavanagudi

Police in Bengaluru have registered three separate FIRs and arrested nine people, including two minors, following a clash during an Eid-Milad procession on KR Road in Basavanagudi on Wednesday.

The incident took place at around 3:15 pm when an Eid-Milad procession originating from Kumaraswamy Layout was passing near Garadi Apartment on KR Road. According to police, Hindutva activist Puneeth Kerehalli and his associates arrived in front of the procession carrying saffron flags and raised slogans.

Tensions escalated after Kerehalli and his group allegedly attempted to stop the procession participants from raising slogans. During the confrontation, a man identified as Murali was assaulted and sustained injuries before being shifted to a hospital for medical attention.

Following a complaint lodged by Abdul Razzak Khan, the police registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to promoting enmity between groups, unlawful assembly, assault, and criminal intimidation. Police arrested Puneeth Kerehalli, Gopigowda (26) from Ramanagara district, Vinod Nayak (24), and another individual in connection with this complaint.

A counter-complaint filed by Kerehalli led to the registration of a second case involving charges of attempt to murder and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Police arrested Akmal Pasha (18), Abubakar Siddiq (24), Syed Anas (22), and two minors in connection with the counter-case.

Additionally, a third FIR was registered based on a complaint by a traffic constable attached to the Basavanagudi Traffic Police Station. The complaint stated that Kerehalli and his associates blocked traffic and public movement by sitting and shouting slogans in the middle of the road. When police attempted to move the injured victim into an ambulance, Kerehalli allegedly refused to cooperate and lay down on the road in protest. Police registered a case under Section 385 of the BNS.