JOIN USAccording to the police, BBMP additional commissioner (Dasarahalli zone) S N Nagaraj was attacked by a mob allegedly led by B M Keshavachar, son an ex-councillor identified as B L Narasimhachar. Nagaraj, 54, was roughed up on Wednesday morning at Bagalkunte.
With injuries to his left ear, Nagaraj was rushed to K C General Hospital where he was discharged after first aid. Based on Nagaraj’s complaint, the Peenya police arrested Keshavachar, Lakshmikanthacharya, Prabhakar and Narasimhachar.
When contacted, Nagaraj told Deccan Herald: “As per schedule, we arrived for spot inspection and carried out an anti-encroachment drive on pavements. Around 10.30 am when we were on MEI Layout Main Road, our staff came across a shop which had encroached upon the pavement.”
The official said his colleagues “pointed out the irregularities and asked shopkeepers to remove the structures on their own.”
He said the shopkeepers were warned that the BBMP would be forced to use JCB. “Narasimhachar, accompanied by his son Keshav and his associates Pathi and Prabhu, reached the spot. An altercation broke out. They used foul language and started beating us up,” Nagaraj recalled.
“They rained blows on me,” Nagaraj described, adding that he collapsed and passed out. “When I came to, I found myself in hospital,” he said.
BBMP Commissioner Bharatlal Meena said he would take up the matter with the police. “People cannot be allowed to take the law in their hands. They have to abide by the law. The BBMP will not tolerate unauthorised structures on public places,” Meena said, adding that the law enforcing arm of the BBMP will be strengthened to prevent such incidents. The Employees’ Central Union has decided to stage a protest against the assault. The demonstration will take place at BBMP headquarters at Hudson Circle on Thursday.
Asked whether the BBMP employees would also protest against Muzrai Minister V Somanna for allegedly assaulting assistant engineer Somaraju, union president R Subramanya said the chief engineers and other officers have already said that Somaraju was not assaulted.