Bengaluru: “They kept asking me to speak in Kannada. If you outsiders know how to eat food that is produced in Karnataka, you must also know to speak Kannada. This is India not China,” recalled T Michael Lamjathang Haokip, a 26-year-old engineering student hailing from Churchandpur district in Manipur, who along with two others were the victims of a hate crime in Kothanur police station limits on Wednesday.
Michael sustained injuries on head, back and shoulder and is now out of danger, while his two friends, Ngamkholen Haokip, 28, and Rocky Kipgen, 25 escaped with minor injuries. “I got five stitches and there is lot of pain on my shoulder, foot, back and ankle,” Michael said. All three are students of BMS College in Shantinagar. They later filed a complaint with the Kothanur police station.
After hearing the commotion many people gathered at the spot, but no one came to help us, Michael said. “As I was being thrashed mercilessly, I noticed my friend Letmang Haokip, pass by on a bike. In a bid to save my life, I jumped onto his bike and started racing towards the police station,” he added.
As they began to race towards the police station, the attackers followed them on their bikes and one of them crashed into their bike. “We both fell on the road. While Letmang was left behind, I raced towards the police station when a patrol van came and dispersed the mob,” Michael said.
Meanwhile, Letmang was surrounded by the gang, who snatched his valuables and bike documents. Timely intervention by Michael, along with the police patrol party saved his life. DCP North-East division, Vikas Kumar told Deccan Chronicle, “We have arrested three men in this connection and stringent action will be taken against them.
