Pramesh S Jain
The West Division police have initiated legal action against supporters of Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna and Vijayanagar MLA M.Krishnappa after they staged protests at multiple locations in West Bengaluru on Monday,allegedly disrupting traffic and attempting to lay siege to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his private visit to Chandra Layout.
Senior officer told reporters that the protests were triggered after the two Congress legislators were denied berths in the recently expanded State Cabinet.
Supporters reportedly blocked roads,set tyres on fire and raised slogans at several locations,including the KIMCO Junction on Mysuru Road,in an apparent attempt to draw the government’s attention to their demand.
The protesters also attempted to intercept the Chief Minister’s convoy near Chandra Layout.
However,senior officers clarified that the Chief Minister’s convoy was not disrupted and that security personnel altered the convoy’s route as a precautionary measure to avoid the protest site.
They maintained that the Chief Minister’s movement remained safe and uninterrupted.
Cases have been registered against the protesters at Magadi Road,Vijayanagar and Byatarayanapura police stations for offences including unlawful assembly,road blockade and other relevant provisions of law.
Police have also registered suo motu cases and launched efforts to identify and apprehend all those involved in the protests.
The demonstrations led to traffic disruption in parts of west Bengaluru before police dispersed the protesters and restored normal movement.
Meanwhile,senior police officials are learnt to have expressed concern over the security arrangements for the Chief Minister’s movement.
Although the situation was brought under control without any breach of the Chief Minister’s security,an internal probe has been initiated to ascertain whether adequate preventive measures had been taken in view of the prevailing political situation.
According to sources,investigators are examining whether the protest could have been anticipated and whether additional deployment at sensitive locations might have prevented the road blockades and the attempt to approach the Chief Minister’s convoy.
Officials are also probing how protesters were able to assemble at strategically chosen locations to maximize traffic disruption and exert political pressure.
Police,however,maintained that the situation was swiftly contained,the Chief Minister’s security was never compromised,and legal action has been initiated against those responsible for the protests.
