JOIN US Scores of people returning home from work had a gruelling time as traffic came to a grinding halt for a few hours in Koramangala and adjoining areas in the City’s IT corridor, following a massive protest by Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) personnel and their families on Wednesday evening.
There was a gridlock in Koramangala, Outer Ring Road, Hosur Road, Sarjapur Road, Madiwala, Adugodi and surrounding areas since 7 pm when the protesters blocked the busy Krupanidhi College junction in Koramangala, seeking justice for Additional Director General of Police P Ravindranath, who has been accused of taking photographs of a woman on his mobile phone at a coffee shop on Cunningham Road on Monday.
Eye-witnesses and traffic police told Deccan Herald that several vehicles, including BMTC buses and vehicles of private companies ferrying employees, were stranded for hours. Protesters had even placed tyres on the road and set them on fire.
BMTC bus commuters were seen alighting from the stranded buses and walking to their destinations. Mohan Kumar, a bank employee, stuck in the jam, said, “It is an unexpected thing and for the first time, I am witnessing police personnel protesting against their own bosses. There are many who are stuck in the jam and are struggling to get out of the place before the protest turns violent.”
As the protesters were from their own department, the police had a difficult time in controlling them and were against using force to disperse them. When protesters gheraoed Kamal Pant, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), the DCPs at the spot rushed to his rescue.
Inspector General of Police (KSRP) Malini Krishnamurthy and Deputy Inspector General of Police (KSRP) Sonia Narang visited the spot and tried to convince the staff to withdraw the protest. The KSRP staff was angry that the High Grounds police had removed Ravindranath’s shirt and put him in the lock-up.
Certain steps Ravindranath had taken as ADGP (KSRP) to help the KSRP staff in their children’s education and welfare had won him their affection.