Police in dock for refusing to register FIR

The Subramanyapura police are in the dock for refusing to register an FIR against land-grabbers, who assaulted Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) officials.

An Assistant Executive Engineer and other staff of BDA were allegedly assaulted by land-grabbers in Voddarapalya on October 21. But Subrama­nyapura police refused to register the complaint, despite approaching the DCP (South). Though the BDA has not made any attempts to safeguard its staff, Upa Lokayukta has summoned the DCP (South) on a complaint by local residents.

According to the complainants H Anilesh and Keshavakrishna, the BDA Executive Engineer Vishwanath had gone to clear encroachments in the survey numbers 13, 36, 44, 50, 51, 52, 93 and 97 1/A at Voddarapalya. The land measuring six acres and three guntas was acquired by the BDA through notification.

However, certain land grabbers had forcibly tried to interfere with the BDA property and started constructing buildings in a portion of the property. The complainants specified that the BDA had not only acquired the land, but it was in possession of the land for a long time and it was also displayed on the property that it was BDA property.

On October 18, the BDA had written to the DC Bangalore (Urban) with a copy to Subramanyapura police station seeking assistance for clearing the encroachment. The BDA team led by the Executive Engineer had gone to the spot on October 21. When they took up the demolition process, one H Venkatappa and his supporters, around 50 persons, assaulted the BDA officials and also took away their JCBs.

The BDA officials approached the Subramanyapura police station to lodge a complaint, but the Station House Officer (SHO) refused to receive the complaint. The Executive Engineer later approached the DCP (South) and a copy of the complaint was forwarded to the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Inspector of Subramanyapura police station. The police registered an FIR on October 29 when the Executive Engineer sent the complaint through registered post. The FIR was registered for non-cognizable offences under sections 143, 148, and 353 of IPC.

Both the Executive Engineer and the Police Inspector were summoned by the Upa Lokayukta. The Executive Engineer stated that his efforts to lodge a complaint became futile on the day of assault.

“From the statements of the Executive Engineer it appears that one public authority did not want to assist the other in a matter of protection of public (BDA) property. Even if the complaint does not disclose any cognizable offence, it is the duty of the SHO to record the same in ‘A’ diary and forward the complaint to the jurisdictional court. If there is any legal impediment, the officer concerned should have recorded the same in his diary and issued a proper endorsement. The inspector states that he was waiting for instructions from the DCP,” Justice Adi said.
  
After taking the statements from the Executive Engineer and the police inspector, the Upa Lokayukta has summoned the DCP (South) to be present in person on November 7.
DH News Service