Bengaluru: Two days after a group of foreign students were targeted by a mob at Gujarat University for offering namaz during Ramadan, a shopkeeper in Bengaluru has alleged that he was threatened and attacked for playing Hanuman Chalisa during Azaan.
A video, courtesy CCTV footage accessed by police, surfaced online showing a scuffle between the shopkeeper and a group of men.
Bengaluru Police said a few Muslim youths questioned the shopkeeper who played Hanuman Chalisa over loudspeaker during the call to prayer.
An argument ensued, following which the two parties traded blows.
Watch the video clip posted by ANI sourced from police:
#WATCH | Karnataka: 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… pic.twitter.com/L0f0rxlfSR
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024
According to the FIR registered in the case, the quarrel was over loud music.
The incident took place on Sunday night at Siddannagalli in the Cubbonpet area, which is within the limits of Halasuru Gate police station.
Three persons have been arrested for allegedly assaulting the shopkeeper, PTI reported. Police said the suspects are all aged between 20 and 25 years, reportedly belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities.
“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,” the shopkeeper said.
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