Bengaluru auto driver assaulted for not chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, FIR omits communal angle

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An autorickshaw driver in Bengaluru, Waseem Ahmed, has alleged that he was brutally assaulted by a group of men for refusing to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on Sunday. The incident occurred around 6.30 pm on June 22 near a vacant plot in Hegde Nagar under Sampigehalli police limits.

According to Waseem, six to eight intoxicated men approached him and a friend and demanded that they chant the slogan. When he refused, the group allegedly beat him up, while his friend managed to flee, The Hindu reported.

As per the report, Ahmed stated, while recalling the incident, that he was attacked because he declined to chant the religious slogan. He sustained serious injuries, including suspected internal damage and hearing loss in one ear. A medico-legal case has been filed at Yelahanka General Hospital to document his injuries

However, the police have said that they are yet to confirm if the attack was indeed communal in nature. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sajeeth V J stated that Ahmed’s formal complaint does not mention anything about being forced to chant ’Jai Shri Ram’. “We’re reviewing all available evidence, including the video, but so far, no witness has corroborated the claim that any slogans were involved,” The Hindu quoted Sajeeth V J as saying.

Police officials have recorded statements from nearby witnesses, including a security guard, none of whom reported hearing the group force Ahmed to chant slogans. Despite this, Ahmed remains firm on his version of the incident.

Activist Zia Nomani, who assisted Ahmed in filing the complaint, alleged that police are attempting to downplay the communal aspect of the assault. He claimed that Waseem did tell officers about religious slurs and coercion related to the slogan, but these details were not fully reflected in the FIR.

The Sampigehalli police have registered an FIR on Tuesday and are working to identify the accused, all of whom are believed to be local residents. A manhunt has been launched, and the investigation is ongoing.