Belagavi: A government bus conductor was physically assaulted on Friday for not conversing in Marathi with a passenger on the outskirts of Belagavi, a district bordering Maharashtra, police sources reported.
Mahadevappa Mallappa Hukkeri, a 51-year-old conductor, recounted the distressing incident with tears in his eyes. He stated that a woman, accompanied by a man, boarded the bus at Sulebhavi village and addressed him in Marathi.
Hukkeri explained that he was unfamiliar with the language and requested her to speak in Kannada. This reportedly angered the woman, who rebuked him, insisting that he should learn Marathi. Shortly after, a crowd gathered and began attacking him, inflicting blows to his head and body.
Following the assault, Hukkeri was rushed to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences. Medical officials confirmed that he sustained minor injuries and is in stable condition.
In response to the incident, pro-Kannada activists organized a demonstration, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible. The attack has intensified tensions in the region, potentially reigniting the longstanding border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra.
Belagavi, home to a significant Marathi-speaking community, has witnessed recurring conflicts, with some factions advocating for the district’s inclusion in Maharashtra—a move strongly opposed by Kannada-speaking residents and the Karnataka government.
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