Assault Sparks Linguistic Tensions in Belagavi

A conductor was assaulted for not replying to a passenger in Marathi, leading to arrests. The incident occurred in Belagavi, highlighting regional language tensions. A case under the POCSO Act was also filed against the conductor following a counter complaint, but no arrests have been made yet in that case.

Four individuals have been apprehended for allegedly attacking a conductor of a state transport bus for not responding in Marathi, authorities reported on Saturday.

This incident took place on Friday just outside Belagavi, a district town bordering Maharashtra. It underscores ongoing language tensions in the region.

The 51-year-old conductor, Mahadevappa Mallappa Hukkeri, emotionally recounted the altercation. A girl on the bus spoke in Marathi, but Hukkeri, unfamiliar with the language, asked her to converse in Kannada, which led to abuse and an assault by bystanders.

The conductor sustained minor injuries and was treated at the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences. Authorities have filed a case, resulting in arrests, while also registering a POCSO Act complaint against the conductor following the girl's allegations.

Belagavi's substantial Marathi-speaking population has historically advocated for the district's merger with Maharashtra, a proposition opposed by the state and local Kannada residents.