Yogesh K Porwar
The Greater Bengaluru Authority Municipal Officers and Employees Welfare Association has urged the civic body’s Chief Commissioner to provide adequate police protection for officials and staff during future footpath encroachment clearance drives.
The association has also demanded the immediate withdrawal of marshals,alleging that they have not been assisting officials during such operations.
In a memorandum submitted on Wednesday,the association referred to the alleged assault on GBA engineers and staff during the anti-encroachment drive near Shivajinagar Bus Stand and Bowring Hospital on July 21.
According to the association,members of the engineering team were allegedly attacked by a group led by Namma Karnataka Sene state president Basavaraj Padukote.
It alleged that female engineers were also targeted with pepper spray during the incident.
The association commended the Bengaluru Police for their swift action,noting that an FIR was registered and 11 accused were arrested within 10 hours of the incident.
It also appreciated the police for providing tight security that enabled officials to continue the eviction drive, during which encroachments on about 11 footpath shops were cleared.
The employees’ body also thanked the Urban Development Minister,the Chief Commissioner and the Central Zone Commissioner for condemning the attack, visiting the spot and supporting the injured officials.
In its memorandum,the association sought mandatory police protection for all future eviction and anti-encroachment operations across the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s municipal limits.
It further urged the civic body to discontinue the services of marshals,alleging that they neither participated in the operation nor came to the spot during the incident.
The association also expressed gratitude to the media for highlighting the attack and bringing the issue to the attention of the government,police and the public, stating that the coverage helped ensure action against the accused and the successful completion of the eviction drive.
