Ramanagar (Karnataka), March 20 (NationPress) The Karnataka Police apprehended two individuals on Wednesday concerning the incident of pro-Pakistan graffiti discovered on the restroom walls of the Toyota factory located near Bidadi town, close to Bengaluru, in Ramanagar district.

The suspects have been identified as 24-year-old Haimad Hussain and 20-year-old Sadiq, both of whom are contract workers at the Toyota Boshoku Automotive India Company factory and are originally from the northern region of Karnataka.

The graffiti, inscribed in Kannada using green paint, featured pro-Pakistan messages such as ‘Victory to Pakistan’ and disparaging comments aimed at the people of Karnataka.

The factory employs over 2,000 individuals working in three shifts, with more than 600 employees present during each shift. The graffiti incident was uncovered on March 16 during the first shift. The company subsequently issued a notice to its workers regarding the act.

Upon the incident becoming public knowledge, a large gathering of staff members and Kannada activists assembled outside the factory, urging for stringent measures to be taken. They claimed that a similar occurrence had been suppressed the previous year. The activists demanded the perpetrators be terminated and deported.

In response, the company released a statement declaring that such acts would be treated as sedition under the law. It stressed that the graffiti could foster divides among workers and incite indiscipline. The company assured that legal actions would be initiated against those responsible.

Following a complaint from the company's HR department, the Bidadi Police filed an FIR and commenced an investigation. Utilizing technical evidence, such as handwriting analysis, CCTV footage, and interrogating numerous employees, the police apprehended the two individuals.

Haimad Hussain and Sadiq have been charged under Section 67 of the IT Act and Sections 193 and 356 of the BNS Act. Further investigations are ongoing.

This matter was also brought up in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, where the Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, voiced his apprehensions regarding the incident.

“Slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ were inscribed in four different locations on the walls of the Toyota factory. The company has lodged a police complaint. What has become of us?” Ashoka questioned.

“Previously, ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans were shouted within the Vidhana Soudha. Now, such an incident has taken place in a well-respected company like Toyota, which employs 10,000 individuals. The government has taken no action and is attempting to conceal it. People are inquiring if this government possesses any sense of shame,” he remarked.

“The criminals involved in such acts should face severe consequences. That is the only way to manage them,” he demanded.

“I do not generalize, but a handful of individuals have brought disgrace to the entire community. No measures have been implemented thus far. Toyota is an international corporation with surveillance systems in place everywhere. Despite this, the government has failed to respond. Whose interests is this government safeguarding?” Ashoka questioned.