Maulvi held for hate speech that led to Mysuru police station mob attack

MYSURU: Karnataka Police on Thursday arrested a maulvi for allegedly making a provocative speech that led to a mob attacking Udayagiri police station in Mysuru, injuring police personnel and damaging official vehicles, on the night of Feb 10.
City police commissioner Seema Latkar said Mufti Mustaq Maqbooli was arrested and produced before a local court, which remanded him in judicial custody. He has been booked for delivering hate speech and outraging religious feelings under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to sources, the maulvi in his speech referred to a controversial social-media post targeting a specific religious community following Delhi assembly election results. His provocative remarks allegedly instigated a mob to gather outside the police station and resort to stone-pelting, demanding action against a Mysuru resident who made the offensive post. Police have booked about 1,000 people on charges of rioting, unlawful assembly and stone-pelting, and 17 people have been arrested so far.
Sources claimed four more youths had been detained for hurling stones at police vehicles, including that of DCP (traffic and crime) S Janhavi, when she was on her way to the police station after the crowd gathered there. Police have denied permission for processions to condemn the attack on the police station. Dalit Mahasabha members had sought permission to hold a mega awareness rally on Feb 24, while Rashtra Suraksha Janandolana Samithi had applied for permission to organise 'Mysuru Chalo' march on the same day and route.