The Congress government subordinate in Karnataka has come under severe scrutiny over its decision to withdraw a criminal case against a mob that attacked the police officers in Hubballi town on April 16, 2022. The mob involved about 150 people from the minority community, which was reported to be carrying stones and clubs, were assembled near the Old Hubballi Town police station. They were demonstrating against a suspect accused of sharing demeaning material on the internet. Police officers claim that the gang forced them to release their suspect as they were planning to lynch this person. They also threatened to kill anyone who tried to help the accused, including police officers.
Some angered youths started hurling more abuses at the police inspector when he attempted to appease the crowd and urged them to go away; they even attacked the policemen on guard. Some of the police officers on duty were beaten, and four personnel were seriously injured, while some government and private vehicles were burnt during the rampage.
Thereafter, the Old Hubballi Town police filed charges against the rioters for offences of rioting, attempt to murder, assaulting a government officer, and damaging any property, government or private. The charges also complemented some sections under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
But on Thursday, the state Cabinet withdrew the case after a local Muslim organization called Anjuman-e-Islam petitioned the home minister G Parameshwara. The action raised a lot of outcry; Union Minister Pralhad Joshi went to the extent of terming the option as mere appeasement politics. Joshi worried that the Congress-led state government withdrew a UAPA case, which the NIA is still investigating. He opined that the Karnataka government lacks the deserved powers to withdraw such cases. He took Congress to the cleaners for allegedly playing to the gallery by appeasing some sections of the population.
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