Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai has called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate recent communal violence in Naregal village, Hangal taluk, citing a breakdown of law and order in Haveri district. Bommai, who represents the Haveri Lok Sabha seat, also urged action against the Haveri Superintendent of Police and suspension of the Hangal Circle Police Inspector and Sub-Inspector. He criticized the police for failing to prevent recurrent communal disturbances in the district.
Bommai highlighted that Naregal has faced multiple communal tensions over the past three decades, with the recent incident being the seventh or eighth within a year. He mentioned efforts during his tenure to address the issue by allocating additional land to a mosque and creating a separate entrance for devotees. Despite directives from the Deputy Commissioner to keep the main road open, Bommai alleged that the police did not enforce these decisions, contributing to the situation.
The former CM accused the district police leadership, including the Haveri SP and local police officers, of negligence in handling the communal incident. He questioned the SP’s characterization of the event as a “personal dispute,” emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation by an SIT due to lack of confidence in the district police’s ability to deliver justice. Bommai criticized what he perceived as a tendency to trivialize serious incidents and demanded accountability from the authorities.
Bommai further criticized the Congress government for what he termed as “appeasement politics,” alleging that it fostered a culture of lawlessness. He expressed concerns over the protection of perpetrators of violence and the treatment of victims, calling on the government to prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens. Bommai vowed to escalate the matter to higher authorities, seeking the constitution of an SIT and the suspension of local police officers to ensure justice prevails in the case.
