A recent incident in Bengaluru has sparked controversy, with a man alleging that he was assaulted for refusing to chant "Jai Shri Ram." The incident, which reportedly occurred on June 22, 2025, involves Waseem Ahmed, an autorickshaw driver, who claims he and a friend were accosted by a group of men and demanded to chant the religious slogan.

According to Waseem Ahmed, the group of six to eight intoxicated men approached him and his friend near a vacant plot in Hegde Nagar, Sampigehalli. He states that they demanded he chant "Jai Shri Ram," and upon his refusal, they allegedly attacked him while his friend managed to escape. A video circulating on social media purportedly shows Ahmed stating he was forced to chant the slogan. The assault reportedly left Ahmed with significant injuries, including potential internal damage and reduced hearing in his right ear, according to a medico-legal case filed at Yelahanka General Hospital.

However, the police have presented a different version of events. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sajeeth V J told reporters that Ahmed's initial complaint did not mention any slogan-related provocation. Investigating officers have reportedly recorded statements from witnesses, including a watchman from a nearby establishment, who claim they did not observe the assailants forcing Ahmed to chant anything. The police have also recorded Ahmed's video statement as part of their investigation. Despite the police's statements, Waseem Ahmed maintains his version of events, insisting the attack was motivated by his refusal to chant "Jai Shri Ram."

The Sampigehalli police have registered an FIR and launched a manhunt for the suspects. The charges include intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace, criminal intimidation, assault, and wrongful restraint. However, there has been criticism that the police are downplaying the communal nature of the assault, as the FIR does not mention any religious angle.

Zia Nomani, an activist associated with the Law and Policy Research Institute, Bengaluru, assisted Waseem in filing the police complaint. Nomani claims that despite Waseem informing the police that he was assaulted for refusing to chant "Jai Shri Ram" and that the assaulters used religious slurs, the police are attempting to dilute the case by omitting the communal aspect of the assault from the official record.

This incident is not isolated. In April 2024, a similar event occurred in Bengaluru where three men were allegedly assaulted for raising "Jai Shri Ram" slogans on Ram Navami. In that instance, the accused allegedly demanded the victims chant "Allah Hu Akbar."

The conflicting accounts between the victim and the police raise questions about the true nature of the assault and whether it was indeed motivated by religious intolerance. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to ascertain the facts and apprehend the suspects involved. The incident has ignited debate about the rise of religious polarization and the importance of maintaining communal harmony.