Karnataka govt replaces 'minorities' with 'all innocent' ' to withdraw communal clash cases

BENGALURU: Karnataka government on Sunday replaced the word 'minorities' with 'all innocent' in its revised circular. The replacement was aimed at taking back cases filed in the last five years against those who were involved in communal clashes.

The previous circular had asked the police officials to drop cases registered against 'minorities' involved in the incidents of communal clashes.

Rejecting the reports, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy had on Saturday said that it was not a circular but a reminder.

"BJP doesn't understand English properly. It's not circular, just a reminder. Minority leaders represented that some false cases registered against minorities. IG sent letter to SPs, gave reminder that's all," Reddy said.

Karnataka Director General of Police Neelamani N Raju had issued the circular to take back cases against people, who belonged to the minority community and were allegedly involved in the communal riots in the last five years.

The BJP has cornered the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for the circular and accused it of resorting to "minority appeasement" ahead of the assembly elections in the state that are due for April or May.

(With ANI inputs)