Assault at Namma Metro station: Drunk constable missing

Bengaluru: A day after Vijayanagar Police Station booked head constable G.H. Veeranna for assaulting a Namma Metro security guard, the constable is now absconding. He used to work at Airport Traffic Police Station.

DCP West M.N. Anucheth told Deccan Chronicle that Veeranna will be arrested soon. “The case was registered on Saturday evening. It is a bailable offence with an under seven years offence period.”

He said the constable was on sick leave and had not reported for duty on time. He has been missing for 22 days, he added.

The DCP said the head constable had attacked the guard, Gajananda Bheemappa Kilari, in an inebriated state at Hosahalli Metro station.

Veeranna assaulted him because he was denied entry due to his drunken state. We will treat the accused like any other criminal and all due legal procedures will be followed, including disciplinary action, he added.

The incident took place at 8.30 pm on Friday and the guard filed a complaint on Saturday evening. This is the second such incident in a month in the Metro.

When asked about precautionary measures, BMRCL CPRO Vasanth Rao said, “We will be taking a decision shortly. The Metro rules all over India, including Delhi Metro, authorises the staff to disallow anyone who is drunk, from boarding a train. We are figuring out how to handle protocols. BMRCL is yet to decide on introducing alcometers.”