Three people died and 60 police personnel were injured in Bengaluru as violence broke out in the eastern part of the city on Tuesday night over a Facebook message posted allegedly by a relative of a Congress MLA. The person who allegedly posted the message has been arrested. 110 people have been arrested for violence, stone-throwing and assault on police personnel, reports NDTV.
Protesters set many vehicles on fire and surrounded MLA Srinivas Murthy's house in the city.
The police used lathi-charge, tear gas and firing to disperse the violent crowd.
"DG Halli and KG Halli saw violent incidents. To bring this under control, police used lathi charge, tear gas and firing. Police Commissioner went to the spot. Police bandobast is in place. Strict action will be taken against those offenders," the Bengaluru police posted on Twitter.
At least one reporter was injured after being hit by the police while covering the situation.
The MLA released a video appealing to people to maintain peace.
Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai also released a video message, saying people should not take law into their own hands.
He condemned the incidents of arson and looting and said that additional police forces had been sent to the area.
He said that the police has been given a free hand to bring down the situation under control.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao also appealed people to not to take law into their hands.