Bengaluru: BBMP‘s Chief Commissioner, Tushar Girinath, has urged Bengaluru City police to take swift action against a family accused of assaulting a pourakarmika and using casteist slurs. In a letter to City Police Commissioner B Dayananda, Girinath cited a police complaint filed on September 11 at Byadarahalli station, calling for immediate steps against the offenders.
The incident, which occurred last week, involved a woman and her son allegedly assaulting a group of pourakarmikas (BBMP cleanliness staff) and hurling casteist insults. The Byadarahalli police have registered a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Ordinance 2014 and the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.
Pourakarmikas Attacked
According to the complaint filed by Lakshmi, one of the pourakarmikas involved, the confrontation began when Chandru’s mother objected after Lakshmi refused to collect their household waste. “We are responsible for cleaning the street, not for household waste collection,” Lakshmi reportedly said, explaining that auto tippers handle such waste. The family allegedly responded with verbal and physical attacks, injuring five pourakarmikas, who were later treated at Herohalli Government Hospital.
BBMP Workers Demand Justice
Last Tuesday, the BBMP Pourakarmika Sangha condemned both the assault and the perceived inaction of the authorities. The Sangha has demanded justice and action against the accused family, highlighting the need to protect the dignity and safety of sanitation workers.