Bengaluru: The Pulakeshi Nagar police have registered an FIR under several sections of the Indian Penal Code in the Kannada actor Harshika Poonacha assault case.
A shocking incident had surfaced in Pulakeshi Nagar, formerly known as Frazer Town, where the actor and her husband Bhuvan Ponnanna were allegedly assaulted by a group of individuals at a restaurant's parking lot, reportedly for speaking in Kannada.
The incident occurred on April 2 but gained public attention after Poonacha shared a video of the assault on April 19.
The police have registered an FIR under several sections of the Indian Penal Code. The sections invoked include mischief causing damage (Section 427), wrongful restraint (Section 341), unlawful assembly (Section 143), attempt to robbery (Section 393), and voluntarily causing hurt (Section 323).
Addressing the delay in filing the complaint, Ponnanna explained that they initially overlooked the incident but decided to take action following suggestions from their well-wishers. He clarified that their primary concern is for the safety and well-being of the general public and is not motivated by any political agenda.
According to Ponnanna's account narrated to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda, the altercation began when a stranger at the Karama restaurant's parking lot picked a fight with him for speaking in Kannada. The situation quickly escalated as a group of 20-30 people, speaking in Hindi, Dakkhini Urdu, and broken Kannada, joined in the altercation.
Poonacha attempted to call a police officer for assistance, but the gang allegedly assaulted him, attempted to snatch his gold chain and mobile phone, and then fled the scene. Despite reporting the incident to an assistant sub-inspector near a mosque, they were directed to proceed to the nearest police station to file an official complaint.
Expressing her concerns over the safety of speaking Kannada in Karnataka, Poonacha questioned the current state of affairs, asking whether they are living in Pakistan or Afghanistan due to such incidents. She emphasized the need for safety and respect for all languages and cultures in society.
The incident has sparked outrage among the public, with many demanding strict action against the perpetrators to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.
