A person is said to use force to another if he causes motion, change of motion, or cessation of motion to that other, or if he causes to any substance such motion, or change of motion, or cessation of motion as brings that substance into contact with any part of that other’s body, or with anything which that other is wearing or carrying, or with anything so situated that such contact affects that other’s sense of feeling:
Provided that the person causing the motion, or change of motion, or cessation of motion, causes that motion, change of motion, or cessation of motion in one of the following three ways, namely:––
(a) by his own bodily power;
(b) by disposing any substance in such a manner that the motion or change or cessation of motion takes place without any further act on his part, or on the part of any other person;
(c) by inducing any animal to move, to change its motion, or to cease to move.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 128
Section 128 provides the statutory definition of 'Force', establishing that a person causes force to another if they cause motion, change of motion, or cessation of motion, or cause any substance to come into contact with any part of another's body or clothing.
Remember that 'force' alone is not a crime; it is a physical definition under Section 128 BNS. It becomes criminal force only when coupled with the absence of consent and the specific mens rea defined in Section 129 BNS.