A 24-year-old engineering student from Manipur named T Michael Lamjathang was beaten up by three miscreants in Bangalore and was forced to speak Kannada.
The incident occurred at around 8:30 pm yesterday when Lamjathang was standing along the roadside with his two other friends after returning from a police station where he had gone to take permission for an upcoming cultural festival.
"On our way back home, when we were having small discussion and refreshment, three locals came in and questioned us you are eating Karnataka food, living in Karnataka you have to speak Kannada, why don't you speak Kannada, or else get lost from this place, they said," said Lamjathang.
"We ignored them after which they started insulting us. They took the chairs and stones and tried to attack us, I defended myself and my friends during which I got injured. I left two of my friends to look after the miscreants and then I went to the police station. While going to the police station along with a friend of mine on his bike one of the miscreant's friends came and hit us and accident happened again," he added.
Lamjathang also said that he got injured on his forehead when they hit him with a stone.
"I got five stitches and there is lot of pain on my shoulder, foot, back, ankles . Two of my other friends were not much injured. Lots of our people gathered together and held the three men and brought them to the police station," said Lamjathang.
He further said that the people around were just watching as if nothing has happened and they showed no sympathy.
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"We all are Indians. However, our faces are different. There were incidents earlier; last night it happened again. They dominate us because of our face structure," said Lamjathang's friend.
He also praised the police for arresting the attackers within five minutes of the incident and said that they took good initiative and are giving full protection.
Additional Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar, confirming the arrest of the three culprits, said that stringent action will be initiated against them.
"The case has been registered under Section 324, 323, 504, 506. Three persons have already been arrested and we are going to take stringent action against these people and such type of intolerant behavior will not be tolerated by Bangalore city police," said Kumar.
"In this case, there was verbal duel and then after that there was miscommunication as the locals were not in a position to understand the English of these Manipuri students. Due to miscommunication it flared and probably they assaulted them," he added.
Meanwhile, Boxer Mary Kom who was in Bangalore for an event also condemned the incident.
"I am also feeling bad. I don't feel good after listening to such news. There should be unity and peace in our country, so that such incidents don't repeat again," she said.