2 Kashmiris attacked in Bengaluru for not speaking Kannada? J&K CM demands action

In another hate crime in Bengaluru allegedly motivated by Kannada chauvinism, two men from Kashmir were brutally assaulted on December 11. Hotel management student Lisan Ahmed and his older brother Sahil Ahmed were returning home in a car in Boopasandra, when they were approached by four men on bikes who asked them a question in Kannada. When the brothers did not understand them, they were allegedly harassed and subsequently beaten up.

According to DCP North, Chetan Rathor, the brothers stopped the car near NTI bus stop in Sanjaynagar to attend a phone call.

“According to the statement given by the brothers, four men who were on two motorcycles, stopped near their car and spoke to them in Kannada. The brothers were not able to understand the language and told the men that they did not speak Kannada. The brothers claim that the four men repeatedly insisted that they speak in Kannada. They had blocked the car’s path and said that they would allow the brothers to pass only if they spoke in Kannada,” DCP Rathor said.

The four men allegedly called other people to the spot and together, they allegedly pelted stones at Lisan and Sahil.

“The car’s windshield is broken due to the stone pelting. They have also beaten Lisan on his head with a stone. He has also sustained injuries on other parts of his body. Sahil then called the police control room, after which the police arrived on the spot. By then the miscreants had fled the spot,” the DCP added.

Lisan and Sahil have been residents of Nagashettyhalli for five years now. The accused allegedly used abusive language while addressing the brothers and even threatened to kill the men if they did not speak in Kannada.

Lisan was taken to KC General Hospital for treatment as he was bleeding severely. The police have arrested two people among the group of ten.

“Two of the accused identified as Mahesh and Harish have been arrested. Mahesh is a fashion designer and Harish is a driver. After their arrest, the brothers were called to the station for identification. They were positively identified. We arrested the two men after watching the CCTV footage from the camera near the bus stop. We are looking for the others,” the DCP said.

An FIR has been registered with the Sanjaynagar police for causing hurt by dangerous weapons (section 324), wrongful restraint (section 341), intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace (section 504) of the Indian Penal Code.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has demand that stringent action be taken against the assaulters.

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.

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) December 19, 2017