Pramesh S Jain
The Commercial Street Police have arrested 11 people in connection with the alleged assault on officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) during a footpath encroachment clearance drive near Shivajinagar in Bengaluru.
Namma Karnataka Sena Leader Identified As Key Accused:
Among those arrested, Basavaraj, the state president of Namma Karnataka Sena, has been identified as the key accused in the case. Police said he allegedly went into hiding after the incident.
The other arrested accused have been identified as H Bharath, 24;B Basavaraj, 28;and T Parashuram,27,all residents of Siddapura;B Raghu,28,of Whitefield;N Ranjan,19,of Hongasandra;A Mujaid Mohammed,39,and S Pampan,23,both residents of Shivajinagar;R Rangaswamy, 49,of Jakkur Layout;H Kottresh,24,of Uppinakere in Mandya;and Kiran S Nayaka,34,of Chamarajpet.
Although Basavaraj had reportedly indicated that he would surrender on Wednesday, police traced his location and arrested him before he could do so.
The Commercial Street police have registered a attempt to murder case agaist a group of people for attacking officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA)during a footpath encroachment clearance drive near the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College in Shivajinagar on Monday afternoon.
According to the FIR,Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Madhav Rao and his team were carrying out a footpath clearance operation around 12 pm on July 21 when two unidentified men, accompanied by others, allegedly confronted the officials.
The complainant alleged that the assailants sprayed pepper spray on the civic staff and attacked AEE Madhav Rao with a helmet,causing injuries.
The attackers also allegedly assaulted Assistant Engineers Ruchita,Savitri, Goutham,a JCB operator,a taxi driver and other workers engaged in the demolition drive, leaving several of them with minor injuries.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Seemant Kumar said,the officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) were carrying out the demolition and footpath clearance operation in compliance with a court order when they were allegedly obstructed and attacked.
“The officials should not have been assaulted while they were performing their official duties.Our officers rushed to the spot immediately after the incident,”Seemant Kumar said.
He added that the assault was captured on video,which has become a key piece of evidence in the investigation.
Police have so far arrested around 12 accused including prime accused Basavaraj Padukote in connection with the attack and said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend others involved.
“We will arrest everyone found to have participated in the assault.Our officers are also gathering information about the background of the accused,”the Police Commissioner said.
Based on the complaint,the Commercial Street police registered an FIR under Sections 109(1),(attempt to murder )132,(assaults or uses criminal force to any person being a public servant in the execution of his duty as such public servant,)74,(use of assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty),351(2),(criminal intimidation),352,(intentional insults intended to provoke a breach of the public peace) 190, (criminal liability for unlawful assemblies),and 121(1)(criminalizes voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to a public servant to deter them from performing their official duties.)of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
