Karnataka police arrested a man in a 31-year-old rioting case that took place ahead of the Babri mosque demolition in Uttar Pradesh in 1992.
The arrest took place on 29 December 2023.
Srikanth Poojary from Hubballi who was booked in December 1992 for rioting in Mysore during the violence that occurred after the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, has been sent to judicial custody.
The arrest coincides with the upcoming consecration ceremony for the Ram temple in Ayodhya on 22 January. The temple stands where the Babri Masjid, which was torn down by a mob of Hindu nationalists on December 6, 1992, earlier stood. The incident had triggered anti-Muslim riots across the country.
The construction began after the Supreme Court of India on 9 November 2019 ordered the entire land to be allocated for the temple, granting amnesty to the perpetrators of the demolition.
The Karnataka Police clarified that the arrest is part of routine efforts to address long-pending cases, dismissing any connection to current events.
The BJP criticised the timing, alleging that the Congress is targeting “Hindu activists,” with BJP Karnataka President Vijayendra Yediyurappa condemning the re-examination of the case and the arrest of the Hindutva activist.
“The BJP strongly condemns the re-examination of the 31-year-old case of Hubli and the arrest of a Hindu activist,” he told reporters.
