BENGALURU: Four youths have been arrested after threatening and assaulting another group of youths who were travelling in a car adorned with saffron flags on the occasion of Ram Navami and questioning the occupants why they were raising ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogans. The arrested are Farman, Sameer and two other minors, with the first two being the main accused.
The incident occurred at Chikkabettahalli in Vidyaranyapura in the city. In a video doing the rounds on social media, two youths can be seen approaching a car from the driver’s side and threatening the occupants saying, “You want to say ‘Jai Sri Ram’? Jai Sri Ram no, only Allah hu Akbar” and attacked them. The occupants of the car can be heard saying, “We don’t interfere with your festivals”.
In Bangalore's Vidyaranyapura, a group of Muslim youths attacked Hindu youths who shouted Jai Sri Rama in a car on the occasion of Sri Ram Navami festival.
As per congress caste census Muslims population in Karnataka is 70 lakh & The 2nd largest religion.
But Hindus are Unsafe. pic.twitter.com/gVCTQUJBF1
— 🚩Mohan gowda🇮🇳 (@Mohan_HJS) April 17, 2024
The incident sparked much outrage on social media and BJP and Hindu activists also staged a protest in front of the Vidyaranyapura police station on Thursday demanding strict action against the accused.
Pavan, one of the victims, said, “When we were passing near MS Palya, two Muslims approached us near the Bettahalli bus stop because we had saffron flags in our hands. They insisted that we chant ‘Allah hu Akbar’ and tried to snatch the flag. While we were getting into the car, they brought three more people and one of them had a stick. In all, five people attacked us”.
Rahul, another victim, said, “We were on our way from GKVK towards MS Palya when they blocked us and threatened not to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and to chant ‘Allah hu Akbar’. When we got off the car, they hit me on the head with a stick from behind. They also hit my friends on the face and legs”.
#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: Lakshmi Prasad, North East Division DCP, says "Yesterday, a case was registered in Vidyaranyapura PS wherein three victims were assaulted by four boys. The three victims were travelling in their car and because it was Ram Navami they were chanting… pic.twitter.com/w84Odo1i4B
— ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2024
Deputy Commissioner of Police Laxmi Prasad said, “The youths were travelling in the car and held the saffron flag outside the window when they were waylaid by two youths who came on a motorcycle. The duo picked a fight saying the occupants of the car should not say ‘Jai Sri Ram’ but only ‘Allah hu Akbar’. When the occupants of the car got down, the duo went away and brought more people and assaulted them. One of them was injured in the nose and was bleeding. We have registered a case and are investigating”.
BJP leader Tammesh Gowda, who led the protest, said, “Such anti-Hindu activities rise whenever the Congress is in power. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are responsible for this. Recently, RSS worker Phaneendra was attacked brutally with a machete in the same area when he was going to the shakha. The case has not been investigated so far. Prior to this, RSS worker Lakshminarasimhaiah of Dodda Bommasandra was attacked when he was going to the shakha. This case has also not been investigated”.
Further, he said, “We Hindus and not impotent, we will prepare ourselves for everything. We have maintained peace because we don’t want to disturb the harmony. There is rampant ganja trade in the locality. Hindus living in MS Palya are in distress”.