Who Is Srikanth Poojary? Karnataka Activist Arrested Post-Babri Riots In 1992

A major political storm has hit Karnataka after Hindu activist Srikanth Poojary from Hubballi was arrested in connection with a 31-year-old case tied to riots during the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi protests in 1992. Karnataka BJP called for a state-wide protest on Wednesday condemning the Congress government as an 'ISI government' purportedly favoring anti-Hindu elements.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that a criminal is a criminal irrespective of the time one has committed a crime. He clarified that Poojary's arrest was part of re-examining old cases and not a targeted action.

"He was arrested in a regular process of opening old cases. He was not targeted alone, and he was arrested because he committed a crime. The BJP leaders do not know anything about law and want to politicise everything in a peaceful state like Karnataka."

Karnataka's Home Minister, G Parameshwara, reiterated that the government doesn't selectively target individuals. He stated that Poojary's arrest was part of processing pending cases in the state, emphasizing that legal actions are unrelated to any specific religion.

The BJP is staging widespread protests, demanding Poojary's release. Karnataka's BJP chief, Vijayendra Yediyurappa, accused the Congress of disturbing peace and creating communal tensions with unfounded arrests. He questioned the need to arrest a Hindu activist for a decades-old case, prompting public skepticism about the Congress's motives.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi echoed these sentiments, questioning the timing of the arrest. He alleged that the Congress orchestrated the arrest to coincide with the grand Ayodhya temple opening, aiming to disrupt the celebratory moment of the BJP's historic temple inauguration.

Who is Srikanth Poojary?

Srikanth Poojary, a 51-year-old Hindu activist from Channapet in Karnataka's Hubballi district, has affiliations with several fringe groups. He stands accused of involvement in the 1992 Hubballi riots following the Babri Masjid demolition and is alleged to have set fire to multiple shops in Hubballi.

The Hubballi police have registered 16 cases against Poojary over the past 31 years, including charges related to inciting riots and causing harm. Apart from 1991, he has been implicated in rioting incidents in 1999, 2001, and 2014.

Additionally, Poojary faces multiple charges related to gambling and illegal liquor activities. Allegedly, he has evaded court appearances. Local media reports suggest that Poojary has been employed as an autorickshaw driver in recent years.