Vikas Kumar, the call centre employee who was attacked by an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer in Bengaluru on April 21, has released a video statement saying that the incident was likely to affect his job, but he was determined to fight for justice. He also thanked the Kannada organisations and others who stood by him.
Vikas Kumar, a call centre employee, and Air Force officer Shiladitya Bose got into an altercation, which turned into a fight. In a video on social media, Shiladitya alleged that Vikas accosted him and his wife near CV Raman Nagar and abused him in Kannada without provocation.
Shiladitya claimed Vikas assaulted him. While it is still unclear who dealt the first blow, CCTV footage that later emerged shows that both men assaulted each other.
Vikas was arrested and released on station bail. In a video statement, he said that although the Police Commissioner had assured him that the investigation would continue and that it would not affect his job, the HR personnel at his workplace had called him, and that he feared losing his job.
“My father died two years ago. I am with my mother. I was taking care of my mother with my job. This incident has affected my job, but I will not let this go. I’m a bit physically strained and am stressed mentally now, but I won’t let this go,” he said.
Stating that he was born in Bengaluru, Vikas alleged, “He gave a false complaint citing language barriers, but I can speak five languages – Kannada, English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. He gave a false case. It was he who assaulted me.”
The IAF issued a statement calling the incident “unfortunate” and said it was assisting the local authorities in the investigation and “following the case to its logical conclusion”.
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from political leaders and on social media.