Bengaluru: Footage of a massive protest that broke out in Karnataka's Mangaluru has now gone viral on social media. During the protest, two people lost their lives, and more than ten police personnel were injured. 

The latest footage shows protesters wearing masks to their faces and entering the premises, vandalising the CCTV cameras, diverting its frame just to avoid the incident from getting recorded. 

In another footage, an auto with loads of gunny bags is seen entering the lane where the protesters are pelting stones at the police. Later, a protester takes the bags out, each containing stones to pelt and vandalise public property.

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According to reports, the protesters tried to break into an ammunition store to grab pistols and ammo to use them in the protest. With police officials resorting to firing to disperse the mob, further violence was avoided.

Speaking to MyNation, Sreenath Seshadhri, a BJP spokesperson, said that Congress has to be blamed for failing to control violence in the city while trying to pressurise the Centre to revoke its decision on the Citizenship Amendment Act.

"Since the time the incident took place, we (BJP) had been telling that anti-social elements are the reason behind the protests. Amid all this, it is the Congress that has to be blamed for failing to bring peace between the people," he added.

"Anyway, we have urged the police to take strict against the people who broke peace during the protest and action will be taken against them," the BJP spokesperson further added.

Tom Vadakkan, senior BJP leader echoed the same sentiment. "We always suspected this (Mangaluru violence) to be a pre-planned incident. There lies the vested interests of the protesters and what are they trying to do by manipulating CCTVs. These anti-social elements did this for public exposure. What is there to be afraid of? The protesters' malafide intentions have now come to light. This is more like a manifestation of vested interests." 

Earlier, two persons were killed while 20 police personnel were injured in violence during a protest here against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Mangaluru Police Commissioner PS Harsh said 20 police personnel were injured.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa had also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to the families of the two people who died during the protests in Mangaluru on December 19.

Two persons identified as Jaleel (43) of Kudroli and Nousheen (49) of Bengre had died at a private hospital following the bullet injuries they sustained in police firing during a protest against Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.