Garbage contractor assaults, flashes at women seeking dues

Three women pourakarmikas were assaulted with iron rods and 37 others sexually harassed by a garbage contractor last week, it has now come to light.

Their crime? Demanding their salaries.

The workers had complained to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) that Nagesh Kumar, KR Puram garbage contractor, had not paid them their dues.

When Nagesh Kumar came to know of the complaint on October 12, he threatened the workers and abused them in lewd language.

“You salary is in my pants, come and take it!” he said, and flashed at the women, according to Maithri, a representative of the BBMP Guttige Pourakarmika Sangha.

When the women narrated their ordeal, office-bearers of the association convinced them to lodge a complaint with the social welfare department and the police.

When Nagesh Kumar got to know about the complaint, he took some men along and attacked three of the women workers with an iron rod on Thursday. He is now absconding, police said.

Initially, the police refused to register a case despite the BBMP joint director (social welfare) writing to them. Later, the letter was sent to KR Puram ACP.

Following instructions from senior officials, finally, KR Puram police registered a case based on a complaint filed by one of the pourakarmikas, Manjula, who was assaulted by Nagesh. In the complaint, she explained about the abuse and assault by the contractor besides flashing.

Abdul Ahad, deputy commissioner of police, Whitefield, confirmed the police had booked a case.

When tried to contact Kumar, the BBMP Guttige Garbage Contractors’ Association, said that Kumar was a close relative of the area corporator MN Srikanth. However, Srikanth denied any such comments.

“It is true that the workers have not been paid for the past two months. But no such incident has been reported. Though I have heard about the complaint, since I am not in town, I will be inspecting about the case on Friday,” he added.