No Jai Shri Ram, Only...: Bike-Borne Men Assault 3 During Ram Navami In Bengaluru

Two men on a motorcycle attacked three traveling in a car in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon, allegedly for chanting "Jai Shri Ram." An FIR was filed at Vidyaranyapura police station after a video of the incident surfaced online, leading to the arrest of three suspects. Another suspect managed to escape.

The incident took place in the Chikkabettahalli area as the three men in the car were displaying a flag and chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' in observance of Ram Navami. They were stopped by the motorcyclists, who objected to their chanting and demanded they chant "Allah Hu Akbar" instead. The situation escalated when the suspects attempted to seize the flags, leading to a physical altercation. One of the attackers, Farman, retrieved a stick and assaulted the trio.

During the scuffle, one man was struck on the head with a stick, while another sustained a nose injury. Police identified two of the accused as Farman and Sameer, residents of MS Palya.

DCP Northeast, Bengaluru City, BM Laxmi Prasad, stated, "The three youths were holding a flag and chanting Jai Shri Ram while travelling in the car. During that time, two youths blocked the car and questioned them for shouting these slogans, also demanding them to say Allah Hu Akbar. As these people got out of the car, those on the bike ran away to bring more youths to assault them. In that altercation, one person injured his nose."

The police have registered a case against the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to intentional religious offense, causing hurt with a dangerous weapon, criminal intimidation, and rioting, at Vidhyaranyapura Police Station.