'Security not sought during Vaddarapalya eviction'

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) executive engineer and staff who were reportedly assaulted by land grabbers while clearing encroachment in Vaddarapalya, had not informed the Subramanyapura police about the drive, it has emerged.

Some of the residents of the Vaddarapalya had filed a complaint with the Upa Lokayukta stating that the police had refused to register a complaint after the BDA officials were attacked. A senior police official said that the Executive Engineer Vishwanath had not written a letter seeking police assistance while clearing the encroachments.

“On October 18, the BDA had written a letter to the deputy commissioner Bangalore (Urban) with a copy to the Subramanyapura police station. However, this letter didn’t state anything about the eviction. The BDA had only requested the DC not to allow any application seeking change of entry in the RTC (record of tenancy and crops).

The BDA team had visited the police station on October 21 without any prior intimation. The inspector said that since staff had been deputed for bandobast duty, eviction may be conducted on some other day. The team went to the spot without police assistance.

Two BDA special squad inspectors were also in the team and were attacked. The FIR was registered on the same day, but for non-cognizable offence,” the official said.

The Upalokayukta has posted the matter for further hearing to November 7. “We will place all facts before the Upa Lokayukta. The FIR was lodged on the same day and even an entry was also made in the station house diary,” the official added.