Flex drive: Four attackers arrested

Bengaluru: City Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar on Friday held a meeting with top officials on Friday on giving protection to BBMP officials, some of whom were assaulted on Thursday after they went on a drive to remove illegal flexes and banners.

The meeting was called after the High Court pulled up the commissioner for the assault on BBMP workers near Tin Factory in Mahadevapura Zone.

The meeting decided that suo motu cases should be booked if any untoward incident occurs during the BBMP drive.

Meanwhile, the Ramamurthynagar police arrested four people for the assault. A senior police officer said that they were not aware of the BBMP’s drive near Tin Factory and as the area is sensitive, people gathered in no time and assaulted the BBMP officials. The four arrested are, Rajendra, Simson, Kamal Nath and Surya, who have been booked for assault, rioting and common intention.

The High Court ordered the police commissioner to complete the investigation by the end of Friday and file a charge sheet by Saturday regarding the incident.

The High Court on Wednesday ordered BBMP officials to take down illegal flexes affecting the aesthetics of the city. Palike authorities managed to bring down 19,000 banners within four hours. But, the assault near Tin Factory where BBMP Assistant Revenue Officer of HAL subdivision Bhadrachar and a group of BBMP workers has raised concerns over the safety of BBMP workers.

According to BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad, 30-40 people gathered at the spot and demanded that the banners should not be removed. When they started manhandling the BBMP workers, ARO Bhadrachar stepped in, but he too was assaulted.

After the incident, the police are now accompanying BBMP officials to spots where illegal banners and flexes are being removed.