Accused include both Muslims and Hindus who tried to fleece shopkeeper earlier too, say police

Suresh Kumar, BJP MLA, interacting with the owner of the mobile shop at Nagarathpete. (Source: Special arrangement)

The alleged assault on a shopkeeper, Mukesh, in Nagarathpete by six men over the shopkeeper playing devotional songs on a loudspeaker has taken on a communal colour.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya visited the area on March 18 and alleged that a gang of Muslims had assaulted the shopkeeper for playing ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ during the azaan (call for prayer) from a nearby masjid.