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.
Further, in the order passed on Friday, the High Court directed that prohibitions be imposed on import and export of the cow/calf and sale of beef and beef products be banned – all to be complied within a period of six months.
Comments
In other countries daily news are like :- Constructions.. infrastructure, dams, projects, oil tanks, etc etc..
In India daily news are like Ban Caw slaughter, Ban gow mootra, ban Gau Export, Dalits Beaten, Muslim beaten, Bharath Mata & Pita ki Jai,etc etc.. Wah India badal gaya..
We welcome this move....but modees export corporates will be naraz and this will never happen.....ha ha....let's see how modi govt. Will react...all Go bhakta should adopt on Go mother in their house.....First Go shaalay.....then Sauchaalay..
welcome move.
center always escapes telling this is state matter and continue exporting beef (their mata) to different country. center utilized cow issue as political mileage and played with sentiments of hindus and muslims. all muslim will respect law provided ban means complete ban, including export.
better let them ban cow slaughter in india,
then let them know who is fighting for that
for muslim no issue we will eat goat or chicken ..
Good decision.
Let them ban all beef /buffalo/ calves and all leather business.
Let the Hindu owners of the beef companies shut their business.
Let the Modi govt. manage the crores export business of financial burden.
High Court has taken mind boggling action on this matter...here on India should not export beef.....there are many export company situated in India owned by RSS Hindus...that should be stopped once and for all....and so that make sure you give gou mata respectful five star life.....the huts should be converted in to bunglows....common its Gou Mata man....it deserves it....
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