Belagavi (Karnataka), Mar 12 (PTI) A man was arrested on Wednesday for 'verbally abusing' the Panchayat Development Officer of Kinaye Gram Panchayat for not speaking in Marathi, police said.

The accused has been identified as Tippanna Subhash Dokre, they added.

Also Read | Sex Racket Busted at Excel Unisex Salon in Nagpur: Police Bust Prostitution Ring Operating Under Guise of Salon in Pratap Nagar, 2 Arrested.

The incident occurred on Tuesday when Dokre visited the Gram Panchayat office regarding a property-related issue, police said.

He began arguing with Panchayat Development Officer Nagendra Pattar, demanding a document related to his property work in Marathi instead of Kannada.

Also Read | 'No New Liquor Vends Are Being Advertised or Allotted by Jammu and Kashmir Govt'; CM Omar Abdullah Says TV Channels Should Stop Spreading Misinformation.

A video of him abusing the official has gone viral, following which officials from the Belagavi Rural Police Station took the accused into custody for allegedly verbally abusing the officer.

Belagavi DCP (Law & Order) Rohan Jagadeesh said, "This video has been circulating on social media. In response, the accused has been secured, and an investigation is underway. Such incidents involving public misconduct against officials will not be taken lightly, and stern action will be taken."

A case has been registered against Dokre for obstructing a public servant from discharging his duty, he added.

Last month, four people were arrested in Belagavi for allegedly assaulting a conductor of a state-owned transport corporation bus for not responding to a passenger in Marathi.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)