Stoking a controversy, Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Wednesday claimed that the recent murder of a 22-year-old youth here was because he did not know Urdu, but subsequently retracted it by stating that the incident was actually over road rage. His statement evoked sharp reaction from opposition parties. “I have gathered information regarding Chandru’s murder. He was asked to speak in Urdu, he didn’t know, when he said he didn’t know any language other than Kannada, they killed him by stabbing him repeatedly,” Jnanendra said.

Noting that the victim was a Dalit youth and has been killed in an inhuman manner, he said police have already arrested a few persons in connection with the case and further investigation is on. However, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said the killing was over road rage. “On the midnight of April 4 at around 2-30 am, Simon Raj and Chandru, both friends, had gone to an eatery at Hosaguddadahalli, and as the shop was closed they were returning. While returning on their bike, they collided with another bike, being ridden by one Shahid,” he said. This led to a quarrel. “During the fight, Shahid along with two friends (who joined him) stabbed Chandru on his right thigh and the assailants fled from the spot. Chandru was shifted to Victoria hospital, where he succumbed to his injury. All the three accused are arrested”, Pant said. Later retracting his statement, Jnanendra said it was source-based information, which was ‘wrong.’ “I have just got the detailed report….. I had said it (murder) was due to a language issue, but it is not right…..he had died because of stabbing, following bike collision incident,” the Minister said.