Basavanagudi Clash: Three FIRs Filed, Six Arrested as Tensions Ease

Three cases have been registered and six people arrested following a clash during an Eid Milad procession in Basavanagudi on Wednesday, police said on Thursday, as tensions briefly escalated in the area.

The incident took place on KR Road after an Eid Milad procession from Kumaraswamy Layout crossed Banashankari police limits and entered Basavanagudi. According to police, Puneeth Kerehalli, leader of Rashtra Rakshana Pade, and his associates arrived at the spot carrying saffron flags and allegedly raised “Jai Shri Ram” slogans.

Police said members of the outfit allegedly attempted to provoke participants in the Muslim procession and asked them not to raise slogans. When police personnel intervened, some Muslim youths allegedly attacked a man identified as Murali with an unidentified weapon. He sustained injuries and was shifted to Victoria Hospital by police.

Following the incident, Kerehalli and his supporters staged a protest on the road, raising slogans and demanding action against those responsible. The agitation caused disruption to traffic and heightened tensions. Additional police personnel were deployed, and the situation was brought under control after a mild lathi-charge, police said.

Kerehalli was subsequently taken to the police station as a preventive security measure after he allegedly refused to vacate the road, causing inconvenience to the public. The first case was registered at Basavanagudi police station based on a complaint by Abdul Razak Khan, following which Kerehalli and two others were arrested and produced before a court. A second case, filed on Kerehalli’s complaint, resulted in the arrest of three people.

A third case was registered by Basavanagudi Traffic Police head constable Manjunath against Kerehalli and others. The case remains under investigation.

Police are also examining CCTV footage from the area to establish the sequence of events and determine the exact cause of the clash. Bengaluru South Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Vamsi Krishna said adequate security had been deployed and that the situation was peaceful.

The Eid Milad procession later resumed under police security. Authorities said the situation was being closely monitored as a precautionary measure.