Mon Dec 29 16:07:45 UTC 2025: Summary:
An article in the December 29, 2025 e-paper of The Hindu reports a concerning trend: Mandya, a district in Karnataka, India, traditionally not known for communal tensions, has become a hotspot for communal riots. Data from the Karnataka Legislature reveals that Mandya accounted for over half of the state’s communal riot cases in the past two years, peaking during the 2024 election year. Several factors are cited, including the BJP-JD(S) alliance, lack of ideological clarity among Congress leaders, the “weaponization” of religious festivals, and the strategic importance of Mandya for political gains. The government plans to deploy a Special Action Force (SAF) to address the issue, but some argue that it is a “police solution to a socio-political problem.” Data also suggests a correlation between communal riots and the lack of cases registered for fake news, hate speech, and provocative messages in Mandya compared to districts with no communal riots.
News Article:
Mandya Emerges as Communal Riot Hotspot in Karnataka: Data Reveals Alarming Trend
Bengaluru, December 29, 2025 – A surprising surge in communal riots in Mandya, Karnataka, has raised concerns among political analysts and law enforcement. Data presented in the recent Karnataka Legislature Session reveals that Mandya, a district traditionally considered communally sensitive, accounted for a staggering 53.7% of all communal riot cases in the state over the past two years.
Out of 54 cases booked in Karnataka during this period, 29 originated in Mandya, with the peak occurring in 2024, an election year, which saw 24 incidents. While the number dropped to five in 2025, Mandya remains the only district to report communal riots in both years.
The incidents cited include disputes over flag hoisting, processions, and the immersion of religious idols. Poet Rajendra Prasad expressed shock, calling the trend a “deliberate socio-political experiment.”
The BJP-JD(S) alliance, formed in 2024, has been implicated, with some suggesting that the BJP is strategically targeting Mandya’s Vokkaliga vote base. C. Kumari of CITU attributes the problem to a lack of ideological clarity among Congress leaders and the “weaponization” of religious festivals targeting minorities.
While the BJP denies involvement, strategists acknowledge the party’s focus on Mandya.
In response, the state government plans to deploy a Special Action Force (SAF) similar to those in other communally sensitive districts. However, some critics argue that this is merely a police solution to a deeper socio-political issue.
Data also highlights a potential link between the number of cases registered for fake news, hate speech, and provocative messages, and the rise in communal riots. Mandya recorded significantly fewer cases of such offenses compared to districts like Bengaluru and Kodagu, which reported no communal riots.
A senior police official believes that the SAF can help in such interventions, and that decisive police action is crucial in curbing communal violence. The situation remains complex, requiring a multi-faceted approach that addresses both the law and order situation and the underlying socio-political factors contributing to the unrest.
First Piper 