Diwali did not bring in glad tidings for the household of Nagaraja and his wife Nirmala. While they were celebrating the festival of lights with firecrackers, their neighbour Santosh lit a firecracker and threw it on 23-year-old Nirmala.

Residents Watch (HSR Layout) - 23502

The incident occurred in front of his house on 22nd Cross, 24th main, near Doddamma temple in Parangipalya. The time was around 7.30pm on November 8 when this happened. Taking exception to that, her husband Nagaraja asked Santosh to light up the crackers on the road and not on people's bodies.

Not able to take that to heart, Santosh not only mouthed expletives but also beat up Nagaraja. Joining him in the assault were allegedly Santosh's mother in law Sukanya, brother Satish and relative Gagan. According to the FIR, the four accused hit him on his back with their hands and later hit his head and body with sticks until blood oozed out.

All along, they kept mouthing expletives and showed him slippers for his innocent retort. The cops have filed five cases against the accused under Section IPC 1860 (U/s 34 (criminal act), 504 (intentional insult), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), 323 (punishment for causing hurt), 354 (outraging a woman's modesty).