The Australian national was asked by the mob and police to write an apology.
By Sreejith Vallikunnu
A group of people reportedly harassed an Australian national and his girlfriend in Bengaluru for sporting the tattoo of a Hindu goddess on his shin.
Matt Keith (21) and his girlfriend Emily (20) were accosted by the mob outside a restaurant on Residency Road here on Saturday, according to by the Times of India.
Keith and his friend were out for lunch when a group of about 25 men confronted them about his tattoo. The mob took objection to Keith for having the tattoo of Goddess Yellamma on his body part. They abused and harassed the foreign nationals and even threatened to skin the young man’s leg.
Ashok Nagar police rushed to the spot and took Keith and his friend to the police station, where mob and police allegedly forced Keith to write an apology letter.
Later, Keith took the incident to Facebook where he wrote “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. 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 4 hours getting the Goddess of the lowest rung of Indian society (Yellamma) on the only bit of space I had left on my body. Because my spiritual journey is my decision, as are the markings on my body.”
He added, “I do not deserve to be victimised and have to physically defend myself and my girlfriend every day. She does not deserve sexual abuse both physical and verbal. We support equality for all, tolerance of everyone and especially for the women in this country. Please support us as we try to bring awareness to crimes of injustice.”
The letter, addressed to the sub-inspector of Ashok Nagar police station, read: “My name is Matthew visiting from Melbourne, Australia. I am very sorry for offending Hindu religious beliefs by my tattoo. I didn’t know of this auspicious custom in regard to tattoo placement. I will make sure to cover it up until I am in India. Thanking you for educating me on what is appropriate. I am also extremely sorry for using inappropriate language.”
According to Times of India, both the sub-inspector and inspector of Ashok Nagar police station denied the incident.
“I am not surprised at the reaction of the police commissioner in relation to this incident given how many things occur on a daily basis in India, but it is obvious that safety for those who want to express themselves should be a bigger priority – which essentially includes everyone because everyone should be able to feel safe and okay to be who they are,” he later posted after the police commissioner denied the incident.
Emily attacked the alleged BJP workers for assaulting her boyfriend, “Yesterday, 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” reads her Facebook post.