Video: Bengaluru Shopkeeper Thrashed For Playing 'Hanuman Chalisa During Azaan' On Loudspeaker

In a shocking incident reported from Karnataka’s Bengaluru, an altercation allegedly broke out between a shopkeeper and a group of men for playing a Bhajan during Azaan.

Three men have been arrested so far for allegedly assaulting the shopkeeper for playing the Hanuman Chalisa over loudspeaker during ‘Azaan’ (Islamic call to prayer) here, PTI reported quoting police. The suspects are all aged between 20 and 25 years.

Talking about the assault, the shopkeeper said, “I was playing Hanuman bhajan when 4-5 people came and said it was time for Azaan and if you played it we would beat you. They beat me and also threatened me that they would stab me with a knife.”

Bengaluru Police Begin Investigation

The Bengaluru police have begun an investigation into the incident and said that the men assaulted the shopkeeper over Hanuman Chalisa.

“An altercation occurred between a group of people and a shopkeeper last evening during ‘Azaan’ time when a shopkeeper played a song loudly near Siddanna Layout, in Bengaluru. A few Muslim youths questioned him, and an argument ensued, leading to them hitting the shopkeeper. An FIR has been registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, and the police are working to arrest the accused,” ANI quoted police as saying.

According to the FIR, the fight was over loud music. The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Siddannagalli in the Cubbonpet area which is within the limits of Halasuru Gate police station.

The CCTV footage of the incident went viral on social media where 4-5 men can be seen confronting the shopkeeper over playing loud music a heated argument between them with one of them grabbing the shopkeeper’s collar. The victim tried to retaliate but they dragged the shopkeeper out of the shop and assaulted him.

The FIR has been registered under 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of the offence committed in prosecution of common object), 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

‘There Will Be A Bandh If…’: BJP Reacts

Meanwhile, a political row erupted after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Tejasvi Surya gave a bandh call if all the accused in the matter were not arrested by tomorrow.

“By tomorrow, we want the rest of the accused to be apprehended. If not tomorrow, by 12:30 pm, there will be a bandh in Nagarathpete. All of us will participate and demand justice for what has happened to Mukesh…This is a question of law and order, of physical safety. Efforts are being made to dilute the case. I have spoken to the DCP myself. We are also planning to go to the Station to find out the veracity of the complaint because Mukesh is a non-Kannada speaker,” said Surya while addressing the media.