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
He earned lot of money through spreading false news. After getting lot of money. now he decided to start his own to suck BJP.
I think the center has given him the cooked story to prepare himself before the Bhopal fake encounter case to bohw bohw on the news-hour....thats y he resigns it seems....now he knows the real fact of the feku......Allah will give him Hidaya...
Who ever speaks for Mr .Modi will get XYZ Security. Soon Anupum Kher will also get same facility.Ordinary People work hard and pay TAX. But our Modi Govt uses for all these useless people's Security.
India is Growing India is Shining.
LET HIM GO... WHO WANTS TO KNOW THE REASON... I DON'T.... AND PLZ TAKE AWAY HIS GOVT SECURITY... DONT WASTE OUR TAX MONEY ON SUCH PEOPLE ..............
Finally coward has resigned. Great news for our country's peace and prosperity.
Surely his bad time is nearing, AWASANA KALADALLY VIPAREETA BUDDI
He will start reading news in Khaki chaddi now
Definitely some thing worst expected from this fellow. Might be joined with some anti nation communal group. Other than that nothing nation will expect.
God save our media and the nation.
Jai Hind
Wasting Tax payers money on useless reporter's security.
He will start new channel. RSS now
He will start Patanjali Times with Baba Ramdev.
He is going to make a new news channel with Modi ....Fakes Now.....
Or next Modis spokesperson.....sure....
May be he read the QURAN and understood the REALITY on how EVILs in this world trap people by spilling out venom & by twisting the real FACT.
Arnab goswami where are. You? Nation is worried
When are you coming back
Arnab please come back soon... People are asking \itna sannata kyu hai bhai!!!\". I have not been able to focus at work, getting irritated quickly, not able to eat my dinner, getting sleepless nights.., please come back and tell the nation that you are not dumping all of us!!!
Your viewer from New York!"
MOHAN BHAGAT IS WAITING WITH HIS ARMS OPEN.
Thank god... Finally an end to noise pollution, after Diwali.
Peaceful new year ahead
thank God. Now Indian Journalism is saved from disaster . Work of journalist is to preach truth not to bark and fire in air
The viewers will miss his famous style of questioning the guest panelists: THE NATION WANTS TO KNOW!!!!!!!!
We miss your News hour . Waiting to see you launch a global channel.
He will start a new channel: Name will be TIMES BOW WOW
Crazy man!
Modi would take him in his cabinet.....cant say....\Birds of feather flock together\""
Add new comment