Veterans question language expectations for defense personnel after Wing Commander Aditya Bose and his wife were beaten in Bengaluru during a road rage incident.
21 April 2025, New Delhi
Army veterans have expressed outrage over the assault of IAF Wing Commander Aditya Bose and his wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita, in a shocking road rage incident in Bengaluru. What started as a verbal altercation allegedly escalated when the couple was targeted for not speaking Kannada, leading to a violent attack on April 18, 2025.
Veterans have voiced concerns regarding the expectation for defense personnel to learn the local language in every state they are posted to. Former Chinar Corps Commander Lieutenant General (retd) KJS Dhillon pointed out that defense officers are often posted to multiple states during their service, questioning whether it is fair to expect them to learn each state’s language before serving the nation.
Major Manik M. Jolly (retd.) expressed his displeasure, stating that the “speak Kannada” demand was getting out of hand. He emphasized that soldiers serve across the country, and it is shameful that a state would treat them in this manner.
Wing Commander Bose, who released a video of the incident, claimed that the couple was driving from the DRDO community in CV Raman Nagar to the airport when a motorcycle pulled over and began harassing them in Kannada. After noticing the DRDO sticker on their vehicle, the situation escalated, and further derogatory remarks were made against both him and his wife. When Bose stepped out of the car to address the confrontation, the biker struck him on the forehead with a key, causing heavy bleeding. Others on the road joined in the assaults, with one hitting Bose with a stone.
The wing commander recorded a video of the incident while injured, with his face and neck covered in blood. The police have arrested the accused, and the Bengaluru police are continuing their investigation into the attack.
Veterans have called for accountability, urging the authorities to take strict action against the culprits and for the government to address regional and linguistic fanaticism.