Factory Worker Attacked Over Perfume Disagreement, Not Language Dispute: Police

Bengaluru: A factory worker, Shivalinga, was allegedly assaulted by a co-worker following a minor disagreement on Wednesday, on the outskirts of Bengaluru. Initial reports misrepresented the incident as a language dispute, though police later clarified that this was not the case.

The Incident

Shivalinga, a 40-year-old factory worker, was attacked by one of his co-workers around 8:30 am at a private garments factory in Anekal town, Bengaluru Rural district. According to police reports, Shivalinga and three other workers were employed as weavers at the factory. The conflict began when Shivalinga objected to one of his co-workers wearing a strong perfume, which had been a recurring issue in the past.

The disagreement quickly escalated, and the suspect, frustrated by Shivalinga’s objection, attacked him with a metal object. Although Shivalinga sustained a minor injury, he was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment.

Clarification by Police

An FIR was filed at the Anekal police station, and the suspects were arrested. CK Baba, Superintendent of Police, Bengaluru Rural, provided a statement clarifying the situation, dismissing earlier reports that suggested the attack stemmed from a language-related dispute.

“This incident was not related to language,” Baba said, explaining that the issue arose purely from the disagreement over the perfume, which Shivalinga had raised multiple times before the attack.

Misrepresentation in Media

The incident garnered attention after Shivalinga, speaking to some Kannada TV channels, claimed that he had been assaulted because he did not speak Hindi. This led to widespread speculation that the incident was part of a larger language-related conflict, a sensitive issue in Karnataka, where tensions over language use often arise, particularly between Kannada and Hindi speakers.

However, the police clarified that the victim’s formal complaint made no mention of a language dispute. Instead, it focused on the disagreement over the perfume. Shivalinga’s remarks to the media appeared to be more of an individual perspective, rather than a reflection of the core issue that led to the attack.

Local Reactions

The misrepresentation of the incident as a language dispute sparked initial reactions on social media, with some users highlighting the ongoing debates over language in Karnataka. However, after the police clarified the true nature of the disagreement, the public outcry simmered down.

Language-related tensions have been a recurring issue in Karnataka, where Kannada is the dominant language, but Hindi often finds itself at the centre of discussions regarding linguistic identity and cultural preservation. The state’s residents have occasionally expressed concerns about Hindi being imposed in public and professional spaces, leading to periodic debates on language rights.

Conclusion

The assault on Shivalinga, though serious, was based on a personal disagreement, not a language conflict, as initially portrayed by some media outlets. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding language issues in India, where misunderstandings can quickly be amplified in the public sphere. Fortunately, the police’s swift clarification has helped quell the confusion and prevent the situation from escalating into a broader controversy.