Bengaluru: Arguments between individuals over vehicle parking are an everyday issue in the city, which has around 1.2 crore vehicles. One such incident, reported from Vidyaranyapura in northwest Bengaluru Friday, escalated into a mass fight, with police arresting 12 men on different charges.The trouble unfolded around 8.30pm outside Durgaparameshwari temple in HMT Layout, when a house owner, Srinath, asked the temple security guard to move a new BMW car parked close to his main gate. The car belonged to Abhishek, son-in-law of Congress functionary from Yelahanka, Keshava Rajanna. Along with his wife and others, Abhishek was inside the temple, speaking to the priest and requesting him to perform puja on his new BMW.
Abhishek’s driver Dheeraj told Srinath that the vehicles would be removed after the rituals were completed. A few women members of Abhishek’s family also echoed this. However, an argument broke out when Srinath asked them to remove the vehicle at once. Losing his cool, Dheeraj hit Srinath in the face. Srinath’s wife, elder brother, and his wife were also assaulted when they tried to come to Srinath’s aid. Dheeraj’s three associates also joined in assaulting the family.Hearing the commotion, some neighbours rushed to the spot and questioned the behaviour of Dheeraj and his associates. Sensing they were in trouble, they ran inside the temple. The angry mob chased them and entered the temple. There, Abhishek and others tried to pacify the angry mob.By then, jurisdictional police reached the spot and tried to intervene. “We wanted to shift the women members of Abhishek’s family to safety. To this, the local mob opposed. They attacked and pushed us,” a police officer said.The situation was eventually brought under control with the arrival of additional police personnel. Everyone was taken to the police station.First, Srinath filed a complaint against Dheeraj and his associates, Manoj, Kartik, Vinod, and Lohit. All of them were arrested for assaulting Srinath and his family members. Later, a police staffer from Vidyaranyapura station filed a complaint against the mob, accusing them of attacking cops and obstructing them from carrying out their duty. Seven men, all local residents, were arrested.
