Bengaluru: In a shocking incident on BVK Iyengar Road, Bengaluru, a 52-year-old man, Syed Rafieq, was assaulted after he suggested that the staff of an arts store learn Kannada. Rafieq, a resident of Dabaspet and owner of a shamiyana tent house, was at Mamatha Arts store looking for designs of a lamp stand (‘deepada kamba’ in Kannada). The confrontation quickly escalated, resulting in physical violence and two arrests.
Incident Sparks Over Language Barrier
The incident occurred when Rafieq asked the store staff to show him a lamp stand using the Kannada term “kanchina deepada kamba.” Despite initially speaking to them in Hindi, the employees failed to understand his request. As Rafieq attempted to explain further, the situation worsened, leading to a confrontation.
“The shopkeeper didn’t understand what I was asking, so I explained again. Then the shopowner intervened, but the employees started scolding me in Hindi,” Rafieq recounted. Frustrated by the miscommunication, Rafieq advised the staff to learn Kannada since they were conducting business in Bengaluru.
In response, one of the employees shouted back, sarcastically asking if he should go to school to learn Kannada. Rafieq’s reply, “There is nothing wrong in going to school and learning Kannada,” only added to the tension.
Argument Turns Violent
The exchange soon escalated into a physical altercation when the staff member allegedly scolded Rafieq’s wife, who was also present at the scene. According to Rafieq, when he tried to respond, one employee punched him in the face, and another hit him multiple times on the head with a brass plate.
Bleeding profusely, Rafieq ran out of the store seeking help from passersby. Some members of the public tried to intervene, but the duo allegedly attempted to assault them as well.
Police Arrest Two Employees
Following the incident, the police were called to the scene. Two employees of the store, Shesh Kumar and Aravind, both in their 30s, were arrested. An officer from the jurisdiction confirmed that the accused had been charged under BNS Sections 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).
This incident has brought attention once again to the sensitive issue of language in Karnataka, where a growing demand for employees to know Kannada has been prominent in recent years, especially in local businesses.