On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in the Chikkabettahalli area of Bengaluru, three youths named Binayak, D Pavan Kumar, and Rahul were traveling in their car with a Bhagwa (saffron) flag attached. They were also chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” At this moment, two Islamist youths on bikes intercepted them, causing a confrontation.
The Muslim youth obstructed and harassed the Hindu youths, with one of them explicitly stating, “No Jai Shri Ram, only Allah Hu Akbar.” They threatened the Hindu youths against chanting “Jai Shri Ram” and initiated a physical altercation. Media reports suggest that following this incident, the Muslim youths left the scene but returned later with additional companions. They attacked the Hindu youths with sticks, resulting in serious injuries to one youth’s head and another’s nose. Subsequently, the Hindu youths were forced to chant “Allah Hu Akbar” against their will. The attackers were identified as Samir and Farman, and the police have registered an FIR against them.
The Congress’s caste census reveals that Muslims constitute a significant portion of Karnataka’s population, amounting to 70 lakh individuals, making them the second-largest religious group in the state. However, despite their minority status, recent events indicate that Hindus are facing safety concerns. The video went viral on social media platforms, and many Hindu activists called for a protest against the authorities to take strict action against the Islamist extremists.
Based on the OpIndia reports, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police B.M. Lakshmi Prasad, the three youths were traveling in a car with a Bhagwa flag and chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” They were stopped by two youths, who instructed them not to chant slogans. Pressure was exerted on them to chant “Allah Hu Akbar,” and when the Hindu youths stepped out of the car, they were attacked by the assailants, resulting in injuries.
Surprisingly, the police filed cases against Hindus for allegedly assaulting Islamists, despite the fact that the altercation was initiated by three Islamists who forced Hindus to chant “Alla hu Akbar.” Following the incident, Hindu organizations staged protests outside the police station. The state BJP criticized the Congress government for displaying religious bias and failing to take action against the Islamists involved in the altercation.
Large groups of Hindu organizations and activists, along with BJP members, gathered to protest outside the Vidyaranyapura police station, chanting “Jai Sri Ram,” alleging that the police had filed false cases against Hindus. They demanded justice and fair treatment, expressing concern over what they perceived as bias in the legal proceedings. Subsequently, police authorities informed the media that they would gather additional evidence before taking further action.
Based on the local reports from Kannada Prabha, among the four Islamist perpetrators implicated in the case, it has been revealed that two of them were involved in the consumption of alcohol. All the suspects are undergoing medical examinations to determine if they have consumed alcohol, according to officials. Meanwhile, Shobha Karandlaje, the BJP candidate from the Bangalore North parliamentary constituency, visited the affected individuals at their residence on Wednesday night and condemned the incident. The two arrested Islamists, Farman and Sameer, along with two others, stated that the suspects were residents of Kodigehalli.
Amidst the looming elections, the Karnataka state government continues to be accused of playing the religious bias card. Despite assurances of legal action, the Congress-led government is perceived to persist in its alleged bias and animosity towards Hindus, which is not a new phenomenon. Recent instances, including the temple bill and the allocation of funds to the Waqf Board, have further fueled sentiments of partiality. Hindu organizations are vocal in demanding justice for Hindu victims targeted by Islamist extremists.
