The victim identified the people who assaulted him as Suleman, Shahnavaz, Rohith, Dyanish and Tarun in his complaint.
CCTV grab of the assault incident at the mobile shop in Cubbonpete
The Halasuru Gate police have arrested three persons in connection with an assault incident near a mosque in the Cubbonpet area in Bengaluru on Sunday, 17 March.
The incident occurred in the evening, over a row involving the owner of a mobile servicing shop close to the mosque playing loud music while the Azaan was being called at the mosque, ending the ‘Roza’ (fasting) for the day during the month of Ramzan.
The Central Division police have arrested Suleiman, Shanavaz, and Rohith among the five accused booked in the case and have produced them before the magistrate who remanded them to judicial custody. Two other accused identified as Dyanish and Tarun have gone absconding soon after they learnt a police case was registered against them, police sources said.
The arrests were made by the Halasuru Gate police after a group of shopkeepers from Cubbonpet – a majority of them Marwari traders who gathered in front of the Halasuru Gate police station and protested demanding the arrest of the accused.
Based on a complaint from the owner of the mobile servicing shop Mukesh (26), the cops had booked the five accused of charges of attempt to murder, criminal assault using dangerous weapons, unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation and intentional insult provoking breach of peace.
According to the police, the incident happened around 6.30 pm near the Jumma masjid in Siddanna gully in Cubbonpet, when a group of five to six persons approached the mobile servicing shop owned by Mukesh. They questioned him about playing loud music when the local mosque was calling for Azaan prayers.
Mukesh, who owns the Krishna Telecom shop, argued back with the group, saying that it was his shop and his wish to play any songs he desired.
Heated arguments ensued after the youths reprimanded him for playing music during the Azaan time, suggesting he play it before or after. However, Mukesh did not heed their chidings when one of the group members roughed him up for being rude.
The fisticuff escalated when the group started raining blows on Mukesh who came out of the shop to defend him and was assaulted on the road by around five people.
The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras. A few shopkeepers nearby informed the police who rushed to spot and conducted inquiries with Mukesh and his neighbours. By then, the group members who assaulted had fled the spot.
“Yesterday evening, around 6 pm, I was playing bhajans at my shop when these three to four people came and threatened me that If I played the bhajans in speaker, they would tear it down and beat me up. When I asked them how that bothers you, they said it was Azaan’s time and you cannot play songs on speakers. When I refused to heed to their warnings, they threatened to beat me up. I went towards them while I was still standing inside my shop to ask what was their problem, one of them shoved me and then hit me,” Mukesh told the reporters.
“As I went outside, they all assaulted me with (knuckle) punchers and their hands. This is not the first time, these guys had gone and given trouble to another shop and the shopkeeper had also given complaint with the police station, but they have support at the station and their complaint also was not registered. Earlier, these guys used to come and ask for items, but I refused as they do not pay money for what they take,” he said.
It may be noted that there were no references to Azaan in either Mukesh’s handwritten complaint letter or the FIR. The victim, while speaking to media later, however, claimed that the assailants picked a row for playing ‘bhajans during Azaan’.
Later on, a group of shopkeepers, a majority of them Marwaris, gathered in front of the Halasuru Gate police station and protested against the incident and demanded immediate arrest of all the accused. After examining the CCTV footage and identifying the culprits, the cops immediately swooped down and arrested three of them on the same night.
Meanwhile, a group of elders from the mosque approached the Halasuru Gate police and condemned the incident. The elders distanced themselves from the actions of the youths claiming that they (youths) were not only associated with the mosque in anyway, but also not associated with any Muslim organisations or outfits.
Upon inquiries, the police also found out that the youths were doing odd jobs in the area to earn their livelihood. The cops are now on the lookout for the two accused – Dyanish and Tarun who are on the run.
“Based on a complaint from the mobile shop owner, we have registered a case and arrested three persons and further inquiries are underway,” a senior police officer told South First.
Meanwhile, sitting MP of Bengaluru South – Tejasvi Surya who has been nominated for the same seat by the BJP for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections posted – “A Hindu shopkeeper who was playing bhajans at his shop was assaulted by anti-social elements saying bhajans aren’t allowed during time of ‘Azaan’. The emboldening of such elements is a direct result of Congress’s appeasement politics. Just a few days back, people who shouted Pakistan Zindabad were given bail. With such political backing available to Jihadis, naturally such incidents of crime against Hindus have risen in our State. CM must stop setting wrong precedents. I call upon him to update the State on what action is initiated against the miscreants on this case.”
A Hindu shopkeeper who was playing bhajans at his shop was assaulted by anti-social elements saying bhajans aren’t allowed during time of ‘azaan’.
The emboldening of such elements is a direct result of Congress’s appeasement politics. Just a few days back, people who shouted… pic.twitter.com/xX4wOpezrz
— Tejasvi Surya (ಮೋದಿಯ ಪರಿವಾರ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 18, 2024
(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)
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