Resident booked for assaulting BWSSB contract workers

BWSSB contract workers have registered an attempt to murder case against a resident after his protests against digging up a main road turned violent.

Haraluru resident Prashanth was miffed that the contractors chose early morning to dig up a main road, when they knew there would be least resistance from the public. On the contrary, the managers said they picked the early hours because the traffic would be thin and work could proceed smoothly.

The incident happened at 12.30 am near the Prestige Apartment on Haraluru main road, when site supervisor Rajkumar (34) arrived with the crew and an earthmover (JCB).

Rajkumar, who lodged the complaint, said he works for L&T Construction Limited, the contractor to lay Cauvery water pipes in the area. Prashanth, residing nearby, questioned the crew about damaging the road at an odd hour. Rajkumar responded that they had the permission of the authorities to work.

Not satisfied, Prashanth demanded them to show the permission, which lead to heated arguments and physical assaults. Rajkumar claimed, in his complaint, that Prashanth assaulted him and tried smashing his head with a boulder. The civic work was suspended that night and the following day.

Accepting Rajkumar's complaint, the Bellandur police booked Prashanth under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (assault) and 504 (criminal intimidation). The police are yet to arrest Prashanth.

"The Cauvery Stage 5 project to supply water to 110 villages is spread across 225 square kilometres in the city across the Bommanahalli, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Dasarahalli, Byatarayanapura and Mahadevapura zones, where the above mentioned works were in progress," a senior engineer from BWSSB said.