Bihar migrant worker manhandled in Bengaluru allegedly for not knowing Kannada; police probe after video goes viral

In a state where people are sometimes fanatical about Kannada, a young man from Bihar was allegedly abused and harassed by locals in Bengaluru.

In a video posted by the Bihari youngster, he was seen weeping and angrily saying he had been abused and threatened for not knowing Kannada.

The man, who says he is from Bihar's Muzaffarpur, is heard saying he works at a food stall in Bengaluru.

In the video uploaded on April 7, he is seen angrily asking, “What do they think of themselves? Will they kill us? Everybody abuses and belittles us, without even showing mercy. I request the government to do justice to the Hindi-speaking people in Ka­r­nataka. I work hard to make ends meet and all I receive is abuse and hate. What is a Hin­di speaking man to these people? Is being Bihari a cri­me? Do we not belong to this country? I challenge, co­me and kill me now. I am ready.” 

The video soon caught the attention of the Bengaluru police. On enquiry, it was found that the issue was not about language, but bad food. The Bihar youth knew no Kannada and the local group knew only Kannada.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Pratap Reddy told the media: “We found out there was an altercation between him and another group who only knew Kannada. It was not a harassment issue. Since the youth has returned to his hometown, we are collecting more details from him and action will be initiated.”