Blind Muslim man assaulted for refusing to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ in Gangavathi

KOPPAL: A blind man was allegedly assaulted by a group of unidentified youths for refusing to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’, in Gangavathi on November 25. The incident came to light only recently and the police have registered a case and are on the lookout for the miscreants.

The blind man was allegedly assaulted for not chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’.

Around 3 am on November 25, Hussainsab arrived in Gangavathi from Hosapete. He had tea and was proceeding towards his house when three youths on a two-wheeler offered to drop him. They then allegedly asked Hussainsab to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and when he refused, they allegedly assaulted him near the railway underpass in Siddikeri.

Koppal SP Yashodha Vantagodi visited the spot where the incident occurred, on Thursday.

Based on a complaint from Hussainsab, the police inspected the spot on Thursday. Koppal Superintendent of Police Yashodha Vantagodi said, “A case has been registered at the Gangavathi police station on Thursday. As per the complaint, some unidentified people picked up Hussainsab from the bus stand on the pretext of giving him a lift and assaulted him near the railway underpass. They also took away some money from him. The complaint also says he was forced to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’. We will verify if Hussainsab was forced to chant any slogan. We will identify the culprits and arrest them soon”.

Backward Class, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi said action will be taken against the miscreants.

Backward Class, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, reacting to the incident, said, “The SP has visited the spot and an FIR has been registered. Investigation will be carried out and action will be taken against the culprits”.