Bengaluru Rural police arrested as many as 10 rowdy sheeters, including a woman, for campaigning in areas in and around Anekal threatening residents to vote for certain candidates ahead of the general election.

Anekal police personnel, while on patrolling duty in Jai Bhim Nagar - ward no. 17, Hosapete - ward no. 10, and Badripura - ward no 20, noticed the rowdy sheeters who were indulged in an election campaign of sorts.

They were nabbed red- handed as they were threatening people to vote for specific candidates in the upcoming general election. The accused also threatened the residents of dire consequences if they did not listen to them, saying they would come to know who voted for whom and who had not, the police said.

Police rounded up Ramanjini (38), a rowdy sheeter in Anekal since 2016, Suresh Babu (45), a milk vendor, Yellappa (50), a vegetable vendor, Dilip (23), a tempo driver, Renukesh (23), a construction labourer, Nagaraju 50), a weaver, Dilip (30), a tractor driver, V Shankar (50), a tout at the taluk office, Anand (31), a vegetable vendor and Bharathi (33), a milk vendor.

All have been booked under section 110 of the Criminal Procedure Code -- habitually commits or attempts to commit or abets the commission of the offence of kidnapping. The accused have multiple criminal cases against them at the Anekal police station since 2016, the police added.

However, the police refused to reveal the goons’ political affiliation and on whose behalf they were campaigning, stating that it was subject to investigation. “We came to know that the accused were gearing up for the upcoming elections and were posing a threat to the residents,” a senior police officer said.