The Australian High Commission on Monday expressed concerns over the safety of its two citizens after they were threatened, illegally detained and forced to apologise in Bengaluru over a goddess tattoo. Police have launched an inquiry into allegations by the couple.
The incident occurred on Saturday when Matt Keith, a law student at Deakin University, and his girlfriend Emily were at a restaurant in Bengaluru and a group of people took objection to Keith having a tattoo of the goddess, Yellamma, on his shin. He also has a large Ganesha tatoo on his back.
The couple said as they were in the restaurant, some people there started photographing them. One of them approached them and objected to Keith having a tattoo of the goddess. They said more people soon joined them. Some policemen came to the spot and took them to Ashok Nagar police station, where they were forced to write an apology letter.
“...What we originally thought would be a quiet bite to eat turned into a vicious assault by members of the BJP right-wing political party. These men are held with high esteem in Karnataka, with police bending backwards to please them. This meant that Matt and I were victims of being illegally detained,” the couple said.
“Matt and I found ourselves sitting in Ashoknagar Police Station accused of ‘intentionally spreading hatred’. We repeatedly asked to leave, but were detained, although we were told we had not violated any criminal law,” they added.
The Australian High Commission spokesperson in New Delhi reacted saying: “We understand offence was taken at an image of a deity tattooed on a person’s leg. We are in contact with local authorities regarding the incident. The Australian Government encourages Australians travelling abroad to research and respect local customs and laws. We are concerned about reports an Australian citizen was threatened with violence and detained by police because of a tattoo. The Australian Consulate General in Chennai is speaking with local authorities about the incident and has made contact with the couple in question.”
A local BJP leader, allegedly involved in the incident, said the area was surrounded by slums and they were concerned about the couple’s safety as they were flaunting the tattoo. “So we called the police,” said Ramesh Yadav. “We requested police to ask them to cover their body so it is good for them, as well as for us. It is also not their fault, but of those who are guiding them during their stay here,” he added.
Claiming that no one forced the foreigners to write an apology letter, he said the person accompanying them insisted on it, requesting them not to file a complaint. He also said no threat was held out to the couple and they had called the police during the incident, adding it was all recorded on CCTV cameras.
“My forced letter of apology that I had to write before I could leave the police station at Ashok Nagar. I should not have to apologise for what is on my skin and be put in a traumatising situation where it is apparently acceptable to be harassed, threatened and mobbed,” Keith posted on his Facebook page.
He said, “Tolerance, understanding and equality is what we live by. I respect India and Hinduism completely. That’s why I spent 35 hours getting a massive Ganesha put on my back and four hours getting the Goddess of the lowest rung of Indian society (Yellamma) on the only bit of space I had left on my body.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Bengaluru Central) Sandeep Patil said police had viewed the matter seriously. He said an Assistant Commissioner of Police was inquiring into the incident and on receiving his report, strict action would be taken against the “concerned persons.”
“As alleged by the foreign national if there was any kind of abuse and harassment by the crowd as well as local police, definitely the Bangalore city police will take the matter very seriously,” he said. Patil said if police had forced the couple to give an apology, “it is a serious matter”.