The entire drama was caught on camera by the farmer's son at GT Mall on Magadi Main Road in Bengaluru at around 6 pm on 16 July.
Published Jul 18, 2024 | 1:19 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 18, 2024 | 3:04 PM
The farmer, Fakirappa, had gone with his son to the mall to watch a movie with his son Nagaraj.
The security staff of a Bengaluru mall denied entry to a farmer from Haveri district in Karnataka for wearing a traditional attire — a panche.
The entire drama was caught on camera by the farmer’s son at GT Mall on Magadi Main Road in Bengaluru at around 6 pm on 16 July.
In their conversation recorded on a mobile phone, the security supervisor was heard saying that the rules of the mall did not allow entry to people wearing a panche. He added that entry would be allowed only if he wore pants.
The farmer identified as Fakirappa had gone with his son to the mall to watch a movie.
His son, Nagaraj recorded the conversation with the security supervisor at the mall’s entrance.
They even had valid tickets to watch the movie. The old farmer had come to Bengaluru from his hometown in Haveri district.
Fakirappa added, “I have come from my village, we are villagers and this is our attire.”
The security supervisor it is being alleged had insisted that even women wearing nighties are not allowed inside the mall and that proper attire is a must.
After the video went viral, farmers’ leaders demanded that the mall authorities apologise immediately. Kannada and farmers’ outfits also protested on 17 July over the incident.
Sharangouda Kandkur, MLA from Gurmitkal constituency, wrote a letter to the CM.
Prashanth, in charge of the mall’s security, issued an apology and said that such incidents would not be repeated at the mall.
Sharangouda Kandkur, MLA from Gurmitkal constituency, also took offence at what happened to the farmer.
He shot off a letter to the chief minister and the deputy chief minister regarding the incident.
In the letter, he wrote that the state government has to protect the welfare of Kannadigas and that strict action must be taken against the mall authorities and termed farmers the backbone of the nation.
On Thursday afternoon, an FIR was registered against the GT Mall owner and the security guard Arun by the Bengaluru police.
Based on the complaint, the FIR has been registered under BNS section 126(2)—Wrongful restraint as the voluntary obstruction of a person, preventing them from proceeding in any direction they have the right to.
The Opposition in the state, BJP demanded that the mall should be closed for seven days as punishment. However, the Siddaramaiah government assured in the assembly that action would be taken against the mall.
Another similar incident took place in February when a farmer wearing a panche was stopped by security guards from boarding a Namma Metro train.
He also had a valid ticket. BMRCL took strict action and dismissed the security supervisor who stopped the farmer.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
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