Congress worker carrying firearm garlands CM during campaign, raises security concerns

BENGALURU: In a major security scare, a man carrying a licenced revolver in his hip holster climbed on top of a vehicle carrying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his campaign at Byrasandra on Monday and even garlanded the CM. He was later identified as Syed Riyaz, a Congress activist and a resident of Someshwara Nagar in Jayanagar under Siddapura police limits.

In video footage, Riyaz can be seen climbing the truck carrying Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from the front and garlanding him. The CM was campaigining for Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy and was accompanied by her father and his cabinet colleague Ramalinga Reddy.

Riyaz’s hip holster and weapon are clearly visible in videos. Former Chamarajpet Congress MLA R V Devaraj, speaking about the incident, said, “He is Riyaz, a Congress worker from Siddapura. About four-five years ago, there was a murderous attack on him. Maybe that’s why he got a licenced revolver. He’s not a rowdy”.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was campaigning for Lok Sabha candidate Sowmya Reddy.

The incident has raised questions about a security scare as, during elections, all licenced weapon owners are required to deposit them at the jurisdictional police station. In exceptional circumstances, the arms owners are allowed to keep them if granted exemption by the jurisdictional deputy commissioner of police. As per documents available Syed Riyaz was among the 277 people in the city given such exemption.