Bengaluru couple assaulted with cricket bat after tiff over child touching cattle food

Bengaluru: A couple was allegedly assaulted with a cricket bat by their neighbours in Vidyamanyanagar near Andrahalli, northwest Bengaluru, on Aug 14 following a quarrel over a child touching a bucket of cattle food.

The victims are Sowmya GK, a tailor, and her husband Gangadhar, 39, an auto driver. In her complaint to Byadarahalli police, Sowmya alleged that Rajeshwari, her son, and their associates attacked them late in the night after an argument spiralled out of control.

The trouble began at 12.30pm when Sowmya's six-year-old son returned from school and went out to play. While playing, he touched a bucket filled with cattle food that Rajeshwari had kept outside her house. Rajeshwari and her family members scolded the child. Sowmya intervened, saying her son was only six and did not understand that it was cattle food, and pointed out that the food remained intact in the bucket. After a brief exchange, both families returned indoors.

Later in the afternoon, Gangadhar returned from his native place. Sowmya told him about the incident, following which he went to Rajeshwari's house to question them. Issue turned violent at 9.30pm when Rajeshwari's son and a group of friends allegedly came to the couple's house. They abused Gangadhar, dragged him outside, and beat him with a cricket bat.

Sowmya tried to rescue him but was also attacked. She alleged that the gang hit her on the head, back, and stomach, and accused her of instigating the fight. Gangadhar was kicked, pushed into a drainage ditch, and the house windows were damaged. The men threatened the family with dire consequences before leaving.

Byadarahalli police registered a case of assault. However, after the incident was reported on TV channels, police re-recorded Sowmya's statement and added charges of attempted murder under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Rajeshwari's family have locked their house and gone absconding.