Bengaluru: Massive protests by ABVP activists against Amnesty International India spread to other cities in Karnataka on Tuesday demanding the arrest of its representatives for organising an event here where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised.

“We have intensified our protests in Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Hubballi and Belagavi. Rallies will be taken out in more cities tomorrow till the culprits are arrested and punished,” ABVP city convener Prem told the media.

At Tumakuru, about 70 km from here, at least 200 ABVP activists staged a protest against the anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans allegedly raised by some students of the Sri Siddhartha Institute of Technology. Home Minister G. Parameshwara’s family runs the institute.

“An FIR has been registered against some students who raised the slogans and police are investigating,” Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru.

Similar protests took place at Hubballi, about 400 km from here, and Belagavi, some 500 km from here, condemning the Amensty.

Bengaluru police filed a sedition case against Amnesty India on Monday night for the slogans allegedly raised at the event it organised on August 13. The ABVP activists also protested against Amnesty on Sunday at the United Theological College in the city centre where the event was held. The 90-minute event was held, ostensibly, to interact with a few Kashmiri families who were victims of human rights violations in the state.

Refuting the ABVP’s allegations, Amnesty’s India chapter said none of its members shouted anti-India slogans.

“The allegations are without substance. They (ABVP) are preventing the families of victims of human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir from having their stories heard,” Amnesty said in a fresh statement.

Asserting that the organisation was independent of any political, economic or ideological interests, Amnesty said the event was held as part of a campaign based on a report on alleged rights abuses by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. The report was based on in-depth research, including interviews with family members of victims, RTI applications, examination of police and court records and interviews with civil society groups, lawyers and government officials.

“The families of three Kashmiri victims interviewed for the report were invited to share their stories at the event,” Amnesty said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “An FIR has been registered on sedition charge. Action will be taken according to the law.”