Karnataka: Clash Erupts During Eid-Milad Procession in Bengaluru; 5 Arrested

August 27, 2026

Bengaluru: An Eid-Milad celebration in Bengaluru took a tense turn after a clash broke out between two groups on KR Road, leading to five arrests and multiple cases being registered at Basavanagudi Police Station.

According to a press release issued by Bengaluru South Division, Jayanagar Sub-Division and Basavanagudi Police Station, adequate security arrangements had been made for Eid-Milad celebrations across the state on August 26, 2026.

Two processions were scheduled within the sub-division limits.

One procession started from Tilaknagar and passed through Siddapura, Lalbagh and JC Road before reaching the YMCA Ground. The second began from Kumaraswamy Layout and moved through Banashankari Police Station limits, Basavanagudi Police Station limits, Lalbagh West Gate and JC Road before reaching the YMCA Ground.

Clash Breaks Out on KR Road

The procession from Kumaraswamy Layout entered Banashankari limits at around 3:15 pm. Police officers from JP Nagar and Banashankari were present on the route and were escorting the procession peacefully.

When the procession reached near Garadi Apartment on KR Road, at the border of Banashankari and Basavanagudi police station limits, members of the Muslim community were allegedly raising slogans as part of the celebration.

At the same time, activist Puneeth Kerehalli and his associates allegedly came in front of the procession carrying saffron flags, raised “Jai Shri Ram” slogans and attempted to stop the procession from raising slogans, according to the police release.

When police personnel at the spot tried to intervene and bring the situation under control, some youths from the Muslim community allegedly attacked a person identified as Muruli and others with a weapon, injuring them, the release stated.

Police Take Injured to Hospital

Following the alleged assault, Puneeth Kerehalli and his associates allegedly sat in the middle of the road, raised slogans and obstructed public movement and the procession.

When police attempted to move the injured person to an ambulance, Kerehalli allegedly refused to board it, lay down on the road and staged a protest.

Later, the DCP and other police officers shifted the injured to Victoria Hospital. As a precautionary measure, Puneeth Kerehalli and one Mattibabu were taken into custody.

Multiple FIRs Registered

Three FIRs have been registered at Basavanagudi Police Station in connection with the incident based on a complaint filed by Abdul Razzak Khan.

The accused named in the complaint are Puneeth Kerehalli, 35, son of Puttasiddappa; Gopigowda, 26, son of Kariyappa, from Ramanagara district; and Vinod Nayak, 24, son of Annappa.

A separate case was registered based on a counter-complaint filed by Puneeth Kumar, also known as Puneeth Kerehalli. The charges were filed under BNS Sections 196(1)(a), 196(1)(b), 196(2), 109, 118(2), 190, 351(2), 351(3) and 352, along with Sections 3(1)(R) and 3(1)(S) of the SC/ST Act, the police release stated.

The accused named in the counter-complaint are Akhil Pasha, 18; Abubakar Siddiq, 24, son of the late Jameer Ali, from Ilyaz Nagar; and Syed Anas, 22, son of Syed Imran.

All accused have been produced before the court.

Based on a complaint filed by Manjunath HS, Basavanagudi Traffic Police Station also registered a case under BNS Section 385 against Puneeth Kerehalli and others for allegedly causing obstruction in the middle of the road.

Further investigation is underway.