Bengaluru cops await complaint in assault on music band

Bengaluru, Aug 6 (IANS) A music band, which complained on the social media that 2-3 artists were assaulted by a couple of drunken fans at a city mall on August 2 for not playing Kannada songs, was yet to file a complaint, said a police officer on Tuesday.

"We have read the band's (Musication) posting on the social media (Facebook) about the incident, but are waiting for its artists to file a complaint with us in person with evidence to act against the guilty," Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police N.M. Anucheth told IANS.

The police have also asked the Pheonix Marketcity Mall at up-scale Whitefield in the city's eastern suburb to submit CCTV footage to verify the incident and arrest the accused.

"Though social media has become a common platform for everything, including complaints or grievances, there is no provision in law to act unless the same is filed with us under relevant sections of the IPC (Indian Penal Code)," Anucheth said.

In the posting, Somnath, band's lead artist, said after they completed the show and were winding up, two unidentified drunk men came up to the dais and told us to play more Kannada songs, though the band had played a few earlier on request.

"Though we played a Kannada song, it could not be heard or relayed as the audio equipment was disconnected and we were winding up. But the inebriated fans refused to believe us and assaulted base guitarist Rudra and another band member Anubhav with a mike," said Somnath in his posting.

The police hope to identify the culprits with the help of the mall's video footage and any other proof submitted to it.

"We can't take cognizance of the incident on the basis of such a posting in the social media to take action against the accused unless the complaint is filed with evidence," added Anucheth.