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
ramadam went came again again went .He is not seen like you .Pls do not bring religion in all things
hello bhai super pls send u r no. all the best
Rana krishna 10 Cross heghe nagar
hi zaid bro welcome to bollywood industry
May almighty Allah guide all Muslim ummah to the straight path. Ameen.
Holy month of Ramadan, film releasing, so sad!
Br. Zaid, may Allah guide you to be a good and religious muslim. Whatever your physical apperance is, from Allah, it's not of your's. It is like a floating buble on the surface of stream of water. It won't appear for a long, so like we, the human beings. After that, you think of your physical appreance. In this holy month of Ramadan each & every Muslim maximum trying to obey Allah & get pleased by Him. Don't think that the life what we are enjoying is the real life, but our real life really means from the moment of our death. So, fear Allah and refrain from your present decission and put all your efforts to be a good practical muslim and there by teach your dad & whole family about \deen e islam. May Allah bless you forever to make use of your tallents to study, practise & preach the correct deen in its origial shape. By your Brother in Islam. Yaa ayyu alladeena aamanu koo amfusikum va ahleekum naara, this ayath of quran reminds every muslim to safe guard them selves and fellow muslims from the hell fire."
Not necessary all Khans should be a super hit. Look at those Khans like ZAHID Khan, Imran Khan, Ayyub Khan, Kamal Khan and so on and so forth. They are not been seen now.
Good news in Ramadan. The Khan rule is all set to begin in Kannada film industry (sandalwood) like Bollywood. Congratulations to Zaid Khan the future super star of south India. Good that you r starting your film career in Ramadan. that too in last 10 days of Ramadan. wah kya kamal ki batth. masha allah. swarga guarantee...
all khans are ganapathi khans.. severel years back mr zameer ahmed had given ganapati idol to mr kumarswamy as his birth day gift.. that mean this khan also is a devoti of ganapati like bolly wood khan sharuk and salman keep it up
Add new comment