Kannada-speaking bus conductor allegedly attacked in Karnataka's Belagavi for not knowing Marathi

Karnataka police have arrested three people in connection with the attack on a bus driver over a language dispute in Belagavi's Sulebhavi, close to the state's border with Maharashtra, on Friday. Mahadevappa Mallappa Hukkeri, the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) bus conductor, said he was attacked by a group of youths as he was unable to speak Marathi.

CREDIT: BCCL

Attacked for not knowing Marathi

According to the 51-year-old, it all began after a woman boarded the bus with her male companion at Sulebhavi village. The couple spoke Marathi, and when Hukkeri told her that he did not know the language, she started abusing him.

"When I said I don't know Marathi, the woman abused me, saying that I must learn Marathi. Suddenly, a large number of people gathered and assaulted me on my head and all over the body," the conductor said.

The Ksrtc bus conductor asked passengers to take a ticket in Kannada but the passenger got angry and attacked the conductor and said speak in marati. Incident happened in belagavi. #kannada #Karnatakapic.twitter.com/kKqRgAjrM0

¡ª Karnataka Update (@about_karnataka) February 21, 2025

Argument over ticket

According to some local media reports, the argument started when the conductor asked the woman to buy a ticket for her male companion, as only she was eligible to travel for free.

The woman replied in Marathi, to which the conductor responded, saying he did not understand and asked her to speak in Kannada. This led to an argument, with the woman and her male companion threatening and abusing the conductor.

They also allegedly informed a group of youths, who entered the bus later and attacked the conductor.

The injured bus conductor has been admitted to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences with minor injuries.

CREDIT: BCCL

Following the incident, pro-Kannada groups held protests in Belagavi, demanding action against the accused.

Also read: What Is Behind The War Of Words Between Karnataka And Maharashtra Over Belagavi?

Language war in Belagavi

Belagavi, which has a sizable Marathi-speaking population, has seen disputes over language spilling over to the streets in the past as well.

CREDIT: BCCL

The status of Belagavi has also remained a sticking point between Karnataka and Maharashtra for decades.

As recently as December 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray had demanded that Belagavi should become a part of Maharashtra or be turned into a Union Territory.

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