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.
Comments
Dear Sangeeth, Please do not be a hypocrite . Have you never seen a Navy officer in beard, may be like sikhs. Ohhh I forgot For sikhs its ok as they are not muslims. Only if the applicant is a muslim then there is a problem. Right. Remember the Indian army and navy are full of patriotic and honorable sikhs, but they are never treated otherwise based on their relegious beliefs. why this double standars then when it comes to muslims. think about it. and also ponder on who is creating the unrest in society and nuisences in the country.
Hahaha... If hygine problem is there it should be applied to female nurses and the principal also. So college should ask them to cut their long hairs..(choti, Jade in kannada) to maintain hyginic atmoshpeher...
Dr. Narasinga reddy said the right thing
She is jealous. May be her husband dont have long beard
Why these people went there. They can learn from normal institution where no such rules not kept for students
For each course and college has their own style of dressing and hairstyle. If muslims people going to navy and opposing their rules and not willing to cut hairs and beard like they suggesting means rubbish.
India became pakistan after modi starts ruling India
True. Keeping such beard is not hygiene. If they are cutting properly then its fine.
Stop fascist attitude. They are humans
Talibanism
Hahaha very funny. What is this bullshit? Maybe she wants every man to look like her.
I think Mr. Rudawat's statement is complete nonsense and trying to say that our PM is unprofessional.
Absolutely ridiculous.
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