Men get thrashed for chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' in Bengaluru, police detain 4 including a minor

The police have registered a case and two accused have been arrested.

Two others including a minor have been detained on charges of hurting religious feelings and rioting, among others.

Police officials said three men, identified as Pavan Kumar, Rahul and Binayak, were in a car and were going to inspect a second-hand two-wheeler that was on sale.

They had a saffron flag and were chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' on Wednesday on the occasion of Ram Navami.

Around 3.45 pm, two bike-borne men, identified as Farman and Sameer, stopped them in North Bengaluru's Chikkabettahalli and asked why they were chanting the slogan. They forced them to only shout 'Allahu Akbar', according to the FIR.

Farman even tried to snatch the flag from the three men after which two of them chased him into a lane. Sameer rode away. When the three men returned to their car a little while later, they were accosted by Sameer and Farman, who was carrying a stick, the FIR  said.

Two others, at least one of whom is a minor and another whose age is being ascertained, also joined Farman and Sameer and allegedly assaulted Rahul and Binayak.

While Rahul was attacked with the stick and suffered head injuries, Binayak was hit on the nose.

The accused fled after the spot after attacking them. On reaching the spot, the police took the three men to the police station. Pavan registered the complaint and they were all taken to a hospital. Farman and Sameer have been arrested while the two suspected minors have been detained.

A case has been registered under IPC Sections 295 (outraging religious feelings), 298 (intentionally hurting religious feelings), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), and rioting at Vidhyaranyapura police station.