As Bengaluru continues to navigate delicate linguistic fault lines, a man has been arrested for allegedly making abusive and derogatory comments against the Kannada language and its speakers during a phone conversation with a delivery executive.
Arrested computer hacker and cyber criminal with handcuffs, close up of hands. (iStockphoto)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
The incident took place on July 17, when Ranjith Mathew, a delivery partner for an online platform, contacted a customer named Mithun Sarkar to confirm the delivery address for a T-shirt, news agency PTI reported. What began as a routine call reportedly took an ugly turn.
According to Mathew’s police complaint, Sarkar responded in Hindi and allegedly began hurling verbal abuse, including offensive remarks targeting the Kannada language, the state of Karnataka, and its people. Sarkar, originally from Tripura, has been living in Bengaluru for nine years.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
According to a report by Times of India, he said, 'If 70 percent of Hindi people leave Karnataka, you will not have ₹10 to buy tomatoes.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
According to a report by Times of India, he said, 'If 70 percent of Hindi people leave Karnataka, you will not have ₹10 to buy tomatoes.
{{/usCountry}}
Sarkar was arrested on Thursday night and taken into custody by the Bommanahalli police. He told officers that he had been intoxicated at the time of the call, a claim that investigators are currently verifying.
Police have booked Sarkar under sections 196(1)(a) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to promoting enmity between groups based on language and committing intentional insult likely to provoke a breach of peace.
“A formal investigation is underway. The accused has cited alcohol consumption, but we’re probing the truth of that statement,” said a senior police official familiar with the case.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
The arrest comes at a time when debates around language, regional identity, and inclusion are resurfacing in Karnataka’s capital, a melting pot of cultures, but also a city where linguistic sensitivities often run high.
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.
Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.
Home/Cities/Bengaluru News/'If 70% Hindi people leave, you...': Bengaluru massage therapist abuses Kannadigas, arrested
{{^htLoading}}
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
{{#usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe
