BBMP staff protest arrest of health officers

The members of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Officers and Employees' Welfare Association staged a protest on Monday demanding the release of two health officers, arrested over the death of two manual scavengers last week.

Health officials Kalpana and Devaraj were arrested following the death of two BBMP contract pourakarmikas while cleaning a septic tank in YumLok Hotel in AECS Layout near HAL.

The members demanded the release of the officers saying that the police had arrested them without conducting a proper inquiry.

"The BBMP officers cannot be held responsible for every case. It is not the employee's mistake. If they arrest without proper investigation, it is the violation of basic human rights," said A Amruthraj, chairman of the association.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Mayor R Sampath Raj and BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad visited the protesters.

Prasad said that he would write to the city police commissioner to ensure a proper investigation before arresting any officer.

The members called off their protest after senior officials promised to look into their demands.

Meanwhile, the BBMP Guttige Pourakarmikara Sanghatane has condemned the approach of the officials saying that they are least bothered about the manual scavengers.

"It was a landmark step by the police officers in arresting the health officers. The victims, who died, had to take up this work because the Palike had not paid wages for their work. We are going to write to the commissioner demanding the arrest of the officers," said Vinay Srinivasan, a member of the forum.

Services partially disrupted
Due to the protest, many BBMP ward offices were shut down on Monday and people could not avail services related to the corporation. Some offices in Chickpet were closed altogether.

BBMP blames BWSSB

At the monthly BBMP council meeting on Monday, councillors said that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) should pay compensation to the victim's family.

Former Mayor G Padmavathi said that the BWSSB should bear the compensation expenses, as every time in such cases it was the BBMP which comes forward to pay the compensation.

Later, Prasad said: "According to the Supreme Court rule, it is the municipal body which has to pay the compensation and hence we (BBMP) have to bear the expenses."