Bengaluru: Cutting across party lines, BBMP corporators at the monthly council meet raised objections to the arrest of BBMP employees in connection with the building collapse and manhole death case. They all demanded that the guilty be arrested and release of the innocent. They even alleged that instead of arresting BWSSB officials for the manhole death, police have arrested BBMP officials.
On Monday, BBMP leader of opposition Padmanabha Reddy said “In connection with building collapse at Jayarama Reddy Layout and the manhole death of AECS Layout, HAL, police have arrested three BBMP officials.”
He termed this act by the city cops isn’t justifiable and demanded that the arrested be released immediately.
He compared the arrest of BBMP officials and said “Do the police inspector get arrested if anyone gets killed in his jurisdiction?”
So, before the arrest, let the police do the needed inquiry and later act, Padmanabha Reddy added.
BBMP Mayor Mr Sampath Raj who called upon BWSSB official Gangadhar at the council questioned, “Why should our BBMP officials be held responsible for the fault done by the BWSSB? Get our officials released and make water board officials responsible.”
And when Gangadhar replied that he does not have any information relating to this, Mayor lost his cool and said “You (BWSSB) officials come to BBMP to get all the works relating to water board done at the earliest. And now you want to get away by stating that you (BWSSB) do not have any information.”
Talking in favour of BBMP officials, BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad said “Arrest of BBMP officials in both building collapse and manhole tragedy isn’t justifiable. We have directed the BBMP law wing to take the necessary steps to get the innocent BBMP officials released as once the FIR is registered then they have to be released by furnishing the needed details as per law.”
BBMP employees withdraw protest
Over 3,000 BBMP employees who were protesting at Freedom Park opposing the arrest of BBMP officials withdrew their protest on Monday after Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy visited the protesters and assured to prevent arrest of innocent officials.
Amrut Raj A, chairman of BBMP Employees Association said “We withdrew the protest as home minister assured to take suitable action in this regard. He suggested the association to submit a memorandum to BBMP commissioner who will in turn hand it over to the city police commissioner Suneel Kumar.”
Over 5,000 workers at all the eight BBMP zones took part in the protest. From Tuesday all of them will work two hours extra to cope up with the backlog created due to the protest by the employees, said Amruth.
