Bengaluru, Apr 20: As many as 59 people were arrested on Monday for attacking police and health officials at the minority dominated Padarayanapura in the city when they went to quarantine some people, police said.
"Fifty-nine people have been arrested (in Padarayanapura) and have been taken into custody. The people attacked the officials who had gone to quarantine some poeple who were the primary and secondary contacts of three COVID-19 patients," a police officer said.
A large number of people, mostly youth from the minority community poured on to the road on Sunday and thrashed the health workers who had gone to quarantine some people who were the primary and secondary contacts of the health workers.
The officials were allegedly beaten black and blue.
Some local residents who went to the rescue of these officials were also thrashed.
According to police, one among the arrested is a woman by name Firoza who had allegedly instigated the mob to attack the health and police officials.
Subsequently, a large number of police personnel were deployed in the area to avert any untoward incident and to quarantine those who are suspected to be infected with COVID- 19.
Blowing sirens, a strong contingent of policemen carried out a flag march in the area.
The Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao later called on Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and briefed him about the situation in Padayarayanapura.
The violent incident drew angry reactions from various quarters.
Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said an incident like the one at Padayarayanapura will not be tolerated.
"I met Chief Minister and briefed him about the incident. He has told us to act strictly. I have told the same to my officials. We won't tolerate such acts by anyone. We have arrested 59 people. Five FIRs have been registered," the minister told reporters.
Bommai, who visited the area took the senior police officials to task for not being present on the spot when the incident took place.
"Where were you? What were you doing when the incident happened?" he questioned a senior police officer.
"We will demonstrate to the people what is containment zone, what is seal down and what is police action," he said.
Condemning the incident, Health Minister B Srimulu warned those who indulged in such activities.
"The inhuman act of attacking police and health workers in Padarayanapura is highly deplorable. Our government will take appropriate step against those indulging in the attack on health officials and police officials who had gone there to protect them," he tweeted.
BJP's firebrand MP Shobha Karandlaje reacted sharply.
"Seculars attack #CoronaWarriors when they were quarantining the secondary contacts of #Covid19 in Padarayanapura of BLR. While #HealthcareHeroes are working overnight to contain #CoronaPandemic, these morons are assaulting our heroes! Let's not be soft on these anti- nationals!" Karandlaje tweeted.
Meanwhile, the minority leaders called on Congress state president D K Shivakumar to persuade the people of the minority community to assist in identifying the COVID-19 patients or carriers.
Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy too condemned the attack and demanded stringent action against the culprits.
The Congress MLA from the area B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan while condemning the incident, sought to know why the health workers and police officials went to the area late in the night and not in the morning.
"Why did the police and the health workers go in the night when I had told the BBMP Commissioner that I will take them at 10 am?" Khan told reporters.
Defending those who attacked the government officials, Khan said they were uneducated labourers who didn't know what they were doing.
Padarayanapura and Bapuji Nagar were among the first areas to be completely sealed as people were not abiding by the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.
Mr Khader, who is also the minister for food and civil supplies and consumer affairs in Karnataka, said: Mr Modi has so much of concern over the developments in Balochistan, but is least bothered about the injustice that Karnataka is facing on this vital issue. “Is Balochistan more important for you than Karnataka,” Mr Khader questioned.
Comments
Balochistan may be important for him, may be next he will run for UN Gen. Secretary's post.
Another important thing from his speech, \When terrorists killed school children in Balochistan, Hindustan, Parliament had tears. Every Indian school was in tears.\"
But, what happened to his \"Tears\" when Gujarat terror happened?? when unborn babies are killed in mother's wombs????"
Really joky comments here by sangheez....utk please wait till our pm finish his world travel drama and selfie collection.....modi already called naren and Viren....trouble makers in the name of go raksha...ha ha...what more should the bhakts need.....shameless creatures ...
Do not put any dislikes or likes for the comments posted by Ve_r_n or N_r_n. Because more you put dislikes they get more encouraged to write provocative comments.
Naren, what a rubbish..... you cannot tolerate that a muslim is a minister....
Utk stop doing drama baazi ...u r fit for nothing ...we all know what u did when u worked as health minister ...35 rs medicine invoiced at 300rs ...hogappa saaku ...kandideeni ...if u r a powerful leader stand in the constituency where Indians are in large no ...u are winning election becoz of j_h_d_ votes .
Modi has no time to meet Siddarammayya to discss Kavery issue, but he has plenty of time to turn his flight to Pakistan and to eat biriyani with Nawaz Shareef.
Mangana kayyalli maanikya kotta haage aagide.
what can you expect from Moun minister....he will wake up during election time and give some speech to fool his blind bhakts like viren...by raising hand..fingers...
great Mouni Baba. never we seen such Mouni baba in Indian History. Manege Maari Pararige Upakaari
He may not go against the Supreme court... but... ahem...ahem...What about Yettinahole Sir?
Good points by Mr Prajwal. These days all bachchalis pose questions to Modiji just to get publicity. That's the power of 'NaMo Naamochchara'
Mr Khader!
You know that Karnataka is integral part of India. But, Modiji knows that both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are integral parts of India. Where were you when Manmohan Singh was India's PM? Did he intervene in Cauvery row? Did he help Kannadigas?
for Karnataka people, Karnataka is more important than India....For Modi Baluch is more important than India....shame....
Delhi
Karnataka
and those states who doesnt bow down to cheddis will face injustice ...
But dont worry Truth will prevail even if the evil cheddis play many deception (temporary enjoyment for cheddis) to fool the public with fake IT cell of cheddis.
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