Section 130 in THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023 – BNS

Assault

130. Whoever makes any gesture, or any preparation intending or knowing it to be
     likely that such gesture or preparation will cause any person present to apprehend that he
     who makes that gesture or preparation is about to use criminal force to that person, is said to
     commit an assault.
     
     Explanation.—Mere words do not amount to an assault. But the words which a
     person uses may give to his gestures or preparation such a meaning as may make those
     gestures or preparations amount to an assault.
     Illustrations.
     (a) A shakes his fist at Z, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause
     Z to believe that A is about to strike Z. A has committed an assault.
     (b) A begins to unloose the muzzle of a ferocious dog, intending or knowing it to be
     likely that he may thereby cause Z to believe that he is about to cause the dog to attack Z. A
     has committed an assault upon Z.
     (c) A takes up a stick, saying to Z, “I will give you a beating”. Here, though the words
     used by A could in no case amount to an assault, and though the mere gesture, unaccompanied
     by any other circumstances, might not amount to an assault, the gesture explained by the
     words may amount to an assault.