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 Mohan,what will be your reaction if some one says Hinduism is base of terrorism and it shuld be wiped out from this world. Be logic dear Mohan and dont support anti nationals and goondas with closed eyes."
Desha drohi galinda desha premada pata it happens only in india
Only Complaint, nothing to do this congress government. Now Congress is power in state, but they are not intrested to take action.. only giving statement for his vote bank politics. They have no guts.
See the difference.. Spoke the truth on JNU issue, cheddi people filed sedition. For this guy nothing.. he tried to defame entire muslims and islam
It is time for Congress Government to take action. If you want to keep your vote bank alive, then the Government must take action against this MP
guilty must be punished
the one who told about islam must be hanged infront of the people. he dont deserve to leave in this country.
this people dont have any other work, someone told something and this people came to field and started to shout, if u really have mind sit at home and do your work. your family is more important than religion, let it to god to save the religion.
people are dying in the name of religion. we only have human religion those who want to leave in the same can leave here,
why this people are raising voice against him if nobody can wipe out the islam?
Leave it.. ignorance is not a mistake. Dont use that as a modification for your profession Mr.Anant Kumar.
This RSS dog is trying to spread virus poison at Uttara Kannada surroundings. Hope peace loving Kannadiga's will kick him from power shortly.
All are well aware these are the special training from his dirty nagpur base.
But rss will never succeed fro any angle.
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