Bengaluru shopkeeper claims he was assaulted for playing Hanuman Chalisa during 'Azaan'

An altercation took place between a store owner and a group of people after the man played Hanuman Chalisa allegedly during 'Azaan' time in Bengaluru.

A video of the fight that went viral on social media, showed four to five people having a heated argument with the owner, Mukesh, eventually leading up to the assault.

The shopkeeper alleged that he was attacked for playing the Hindu prayer.

"I was playing Hanuman bhajan. 4-5 people came and said it is time for Azaan and if you play it we will beat you. They beat me and also threatened me that they would stab me with a knife," he said, according to ANI news agency.

An FIR has been registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, An FIR was registered at Halasuru Gate Police Limit, three people were arrested. Police have launched a special team to nab the remaining accused.

Meanwhile, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has threatened to launch a bandh in Bengaluru's Nagarathpete, where the shopkeeper was assaulted, if the rest of accused are not arrested by March 19.

After meeting the shopkeeper who was attacked by a group of over five men for playing devotional music, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya says, "...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...It is very clear that 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."

"There may have been communication gaps...We want to keep the account in the FIR factual. More than anything, this is an open and shut case because the whole thing has been captured on CCTV," he said.

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