The protestors set many vehicles ablaze.

Bengaluru:

Violence broke out in the east of Bengaluru on Tuesday night over a Facebook message allegedly posted by Congress MLA Srinivas Murthy.

The protestors set many vehicles ablaze and surrounded Mr Murthy’s residence in the city.

The police had to use lathi-charge, tear gas and firing to disperse the violent crowd.

“DG Halli and DG 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.

The MLA, Srinivas Murthy, sent out a video appealing his supporters maintain peace.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai also sent 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 there hands.

“”Horrible situation in Pulakeshinagar after the attack on our MLA @AkhandaSrinivas house and the Kaval Byrsandra Polcie satiation. Whatever the provocation nobody can take law into their own hands and destroy public property,” he said on Twitter.

“I urge all the people to maintain calm and the govt to handle this delicate situation firmly but surely and not play politics. I also see a conspiracy in the way the Facebook post has been put out & looks to have been done to incite disturbance,” he said further.