Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 22: Tensions flared in the border district of Belagavi on Saturday following the assault on an RTC bus conductor by a group of individuals, allegedly because he requested them to speak in Kannada.

In response, Kannada organisations staged a protest, blocking the Belagavi-Bagalkot road and demanding that the police take action against those involved in the attack on the bus conductor.

The incident occurred on Friday in Belagavi district, igniting a fresh round of controversy over the long-standing language row in the region.

Representational image

Police intervened during the protests, forcibly removing Kannada activists—including women—and taking them to an undisclosed location.

Addressing the incident, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated, "Those living in Karnataka should learn Kannada. People can speak their mother tongue, Marathi, but they must also speak Kannada while in Karnataka. All parties should condemn such incidents."

The assault occurred near the Balekundri region when an RTC bus was travelling from CBT to Sulebhavi. Conductor Mahadevappa Hukkeri had questioned a boy travelling with a free ticket intended for women. When the boy responded in Marathi, the conductor requested that he speak in Kannada.

In response, the boy’s companion, a girl, along with a group of other boys, reportedly assaulted the conductor and demanded he learn Marathi.

The situation escalated further when the minor girl involved in the altercation filed a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case against the conductor, accusing him of misbehaviour. The Marihala police have since registered the case, and investigations are ongoing.

Belagavi Police Commissioner Lada Martin stated, “Both a complaint and counter-complaints have been filed in relation to the bus conductor attack. The minor girl has filed a POCSO case, and the police are investigating the matter. We need to ascertain the truth through the investigation.”

Minister for Public Works and Belagavi district in-charge Satish Jarkiholi mentioned that he would respond after the police investigation report was made available.

The bus conductor, Mahadevappa Hukkeri, who has worked for 18 years without incident, questioned the timing of the POCSO complaint. He said, "If I had misbehaved with the girl, they should have filed a complaint immediately. Why wait until after I filed a complaint against them? I’ve never misbehaved in my 18 years of service."

T.A. Narayana Gowda, the state president of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, condemned the attack, saying, "Marathi youths brutally assaulted Mahadevappa simply because he spoke in Kannada and did not speak in Marathi. This is absolutely unacceptable. The Belagavi police must arrest every individual involved in this attack and send them to jail. If they fail to take action, the consequences will be severe."

Gowda continued, "Kannadigas are peace-loving people. However, that does not mean we will tolerate unprovoked attacks by language fanatics. After failing in their attempts to seize Belagavi, these desperate fanatics have now resorted to cowardly attacks on Kannadigas. If the police do not take strict action, the anger of Kannadigas will erupt. These hooligans must be arrested immediately."

Gowda expressed solidarity with the conductor, adding, "We wish Mahadevappa a speedy recovery. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stands firmly with him. Our Belagavi district president, Deepak Gudaganatti, and other office-bearers have already met Mahadevappa to console and support him. KSRTC drivers and conductors should not be discouraged by this incident, nor should they fear such cowards."

He concluded with a strong warning, saying, "Anyone living in Karnataka must learn Kannada and integrate as Kannadigas. If anyone attempts to impose their language and resort to violence, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike will teach them a fitting lesson."

Due to the sensitive nature of the incident and past violence over language issues in the region, the Karnataka police have reinforced security in the area.