On Tuesday, 20th August, a Bengaluru couple travelling with their kid in a car near the Doddakannalli on Sarjapur Road of the city was attacked by a biker. The miscreant attacked the car, breaking its windscreen and allegedly threatening the man driving the car to come out on the streets. In a video of the incident, the couple could be seen yelling for help saying, “Baccha hai andar (we have a kid with us inside the car).”
The video of the incident is making rounds on social media attracting criticism against the ruling state government for the disturbed law and order within. The video was shared by BJP State Vice President of Andhra Pradesh Vishnu Vardhan Reddy who slammed the state for vulnerable law and order.
“Now a couple with their child was attacked by goons in Bengaluru. Under INC rule in Karnataka, lawlessness prevails with no fear of the police! Such brazen attacks in the heart of Bengaluru expose the terrible state of law enforcement,” he said posting the video on X.
Now a couple with their child was attacked by goons in Bengaluru.
— Vishnu Vardhan Reddy (@SVishnuReddy) August 21, 2024
Under @INCIndia rule in #Karnataka, lawlessness prevails with no fear of the police!
Such brazen attacks in the heart of Bengaluru expose the terrible state of law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/RlQK1C9KiV
A man appears in the video sitting inside a car and directing the camera on his phone at the attacker who is shouting at him from outside. The enraged motorcyclist reportedly attempted to open the driver’s door before circumnavigating the vehicle and picking up a big stone to throw at it. It appeared to be taken out of his hands by a witness.
The attacker yelled for the driver to open the door when he was unable to do so. The rider flipped himself onto the car’s hood and tore off a windscreen wiper as he tried to drive off. He struck the windscreen with the wiper, shattering the glass, even as people attempted to stop him. A baby could be heard wailing inside the car, and the couple was screaming. The driver screamed that his baby was inside and called for the man to stop.
As the couple tried to drive away again, two security guards attempted to hold the biker. As per the reports, the biker was furious after the car took a left turn without any indicator. The police later intervened in the matter after which the attacker was taken to the police station.
The Bengaluru Police commented on the issue meanwhile and confirmed that strict action against the accused will be taken. “Glass shattered, but so are his chances of roaming free—Road rage ends in handcuffs!” Bengaluru Police commented indicating arrest.
Glass shattered, but so are his chances of roaming free—Road rage ends in handcuffs!#weserveweprotect pic.twitter.com/9icsVASuhC
— ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರ ಪೊಲೀಸ್ BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) August 21, 2024
Similar incidents reported in the recent past
The attacks on the streets of Bengaluru have become a new concern in the past few months. Several incidents of such attacks have appeared in the recent past further raising questions over the safety of people on the streets of Bengaluru. In April this year, a video of two men assaulting another man on the road in Bengaluru with a steel rod went viral on social media platforms. The incident happened near Kalyan Nagar on the Outer Ring Road in the city and was recorded on the camera.
As per the reports, 5 individuals were arrested in the case who confessed to having attacked the victim over a workplace issue. One of the attackers said that he was the victim’s colleague at the private dairy firm. The duo had workplace disputes and financial issues among themselves. Given this, the attacker asked his other associates to launch an attack on the victim on Bengaluru streets.
Similarly in June 2024, three men assaulted an ambulance driver for overtaking their vehicle, sparking outrage in the city. The ambulance driver was rushing in haste towards the hospital for speedy treatment of the infant who was inside the ambulance. The accused trio stopped the ambulance and attacked the driver for overtaking their vehicle.
“I was taking a baby from Tumkur to Bengaluru. The baby’s health condition was very serious. While driving, I overtook a vehicle. Then they came and assaulted me. Whatever happened to me today shouldn’t happen to anybody else. Please get me justice,” the ambulance driver said after the incident.
The police later identified the accused as Yuvraj, Manjunath, and Latish and arrested them in the case.