Miscreants who put cockroach into Indira Canteen food caught on CCTV cam

Bengaluru, Oct 23: Are opposition parties using cockroach and other insects as weapons to defame Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government's favourite project, Indira Canteen? A CCTV camera has captured the scene of a few miscreants apparently putting insects into the food before creating ruckus at an Indira Canteen located in Gottigere area of the Bengaluru city.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has filed complaint at jurisdictional Kamakshipalya police station against four youths in connection with the viral video in which the presence of cockroach and insects in food at Indira Canteen was shown.

In a video that surfaced a couple of days ago on Facebook, a cockroach and what appears to be a fly were seen in the food served at the canteen. The incident took place on October 20 at around 9 a.m. The video was first posted by Hemanth Kumar on ‘Fight for Right’ Facebook page at around 7.15am on October 21. The social media cell of BJP widely circulated the media. The 1:38 minutes clip went viral on WhatsApp groups too.

The entire episode was shot in mobile cameras. A man in khaki and another who is walking out of the canteen with anger is seen claiming in the video that “Food served is stale and unhygienic. Cockroach and other insects were found in the food.” Another man sporting blue shirt is heard saying, “Instead of serving food with cockroaches and insects, it is better they close down.”

However, CCTV footages clearly indicated that the group had put something in the plate before raising a hue and cry saying they had found a cockroach, said BBMP Mayor R. Sampath Raj.

“It seems to be a deliberate attempt to defame the canteen. We have submitted the footage to the cybercrime police as well so that they determine the facts. But we are ready for any probe,” he said.

Based on the complaint, the Kamakshipalya police have filed an FIR under Section 504 of the Indian Penal Code for intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, among other Sections, said a senior officer.

All the four accused are suspected to be the activists of a political party. Brijesh Kalappa, an advocate in the Supreme Court, Legal Advisor to the Government of Karnataka, in his Facebook post has called the miscreants as members of a self proclaimed ‘nationalist’ party.

Indira Canteens are a chain of government-run canteens that provide food at subsidised costs, to cover a large area in Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah government is planning to expand to all taluks in Karnataka. The government also prides itself in the quality of food and hygiene of the kitchens as well.

Also Read: Two miscreants who put cockroach in food at Indira Canteen arrested