Bengaluru: In the backdrop of hue and cry from pro-Kannada activists urging that Kannadigas be given priority in most fields, came the news of two Kashmiri brothers being assaulted by a group of four men for allegedly failing to communicate in Kannada in the state capital.
However, contrary to the earlier reports, police have claimed it to be a simple case of miscommunication between the two parties which led to a brawl.
As per reports, an altercation started between the brothers and a group of four persons here in Sanjaynagar during the wee hours of December 10 after the boys had parked their car in the middle of the road. The group which arrived on a two-wheeler later demanded an explanation from the brothers why they had parked their car in such a manner and asked them to move their car, which the brothers did not comprehend since the group was conversing in Kannada language and asked them to converse in Hindi or English.
Both the parties being in an inebriated state got into fisticuffs. The brothers were overpowered by the group who went on to smash the windshield of their car.
The victims placed a call to the police who were able to nab two of the accused identified as Harish (23), a driver, and Mahesh (24), a fashion designer, both residents of Sanjaynagar.
“The attack was not racial as the local men didn’t know where the victims hailed from. The victims didn’t understand what the suspects were telling them in Kannada. We have arrested two men and identified two more,” informed a police official.
The victims too are said to have withdrawn their complaint since they did not want to get into legal hassles. Further they stated that the attack was not a racial, but a quarrel due to miscommunication.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday demanded strict action against those who allegedly assaulted the two Kashmiri brothers for not speaking Kannada. “Very disturbed by the news of 2 brothers from Kashmir being assaulted in Bengaluru. I would urge the authorities to take strict action against the accused,” she tweeted.
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told media persons that he has asked the police to investigate the incident, which prima facie looks to have started as the brothers had parked the car in the middle of the road and take it to a logical conclusion.
