Assault on hotelier on bandh day was over old enmity

A gang of seven that barged into a restaurant in eastern Bengaluru on September 10 and beat up its owner for keeping the establishment open on a bandh day was actually taking revenge over an old enmity.

The Banaswadi police have arrested the gang leader, Ashok Reddy, and booked his associates for assaulting Ravi Kumar, the owner of Dosa Corner in Kammanahalli.

A senior police officer said an FIR was lodged after Kumar filed a complaint, saying the gang barged into his restaurant and, following an argument, thrashed him for opening it on a bandh day.

The CCTV footage of the incident was widely shared on social media and was even aired by news channels. Kumar was initially afraid to file a complaint as he thought the gang was influential. But after news channels telecast the video, he decided to go to the police.

A preliminary investigation showed the gang had earlier fought with Kumar and was waiting to take revenge on him. Taking advantage of the bandh, they thrashed him for keeping his restaurant open. The police are investigating whether the suspects belong to any political party.