Authorities attacked during anti-encroachment drive in Shivajinagar
Bengaluru: A violent attack on Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) engineers during an anti-encroachment drive in Shivajinagar has triggered a major political row, with Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka accusing the Congress government of failing to protect public servants and remaining silent for “vote-bank politics”.
The incident occurred when GBA officials launched an operation to clear illegal encroachments on footpaths in Shivajinagar on Tuesday . According to officials, a group allegedly attacked the enforcement team using helmets and pepper spray, leaving engineers injured and disrupting the drive.
Assistant Executive Engineer Madhav Rao and Assistant Engineer Gautham were allegedly assaulted with helmets by members of the mob, while a woman engineer, Ruchita, was reportedly sprayed with pepper spray on her face. The attackers also allegedly attempted to spray pepper spray on the JCB operator engaged in the demolition drive. The injured officials later approached the Commercial Street Police Station to lodge a complaint.
Videos of the assault soon surfaced on social media, drawing widespread condemnation and raising serious concerns over the safety of government officials carrying out official duties. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress government, R. Ashoka questioned why ministers remained silent despite such a serious attack on public servants.
“An attack on government officers during an anti-encroachment drive in Shivajinagar is proof that law and order has completely deteriorated in Karnataka”, Ashoka said in a post on X. Targeting Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Ashoka said the minister often appeared before cameras during demolition drives in other parts of the city but had chosen to remain silent over the violence in Shivajinagar.
“Where is the Bengaluru Development Minister now? When encroachments are cleared elsewhere, ministers are eager to pose before cameras. But when officials are attacked in Shivajinagar, why this silence? Has vote-bank politics become more important than the rule of law?” he asked. Ashoka alleged that the government’s failure to act decisively against those behind the attack would embolden anti-social elements.
“If a government cannot provide protection to officers enforcing the law, it is effectively encouraging criminals. Does the government lack the courage to remove encroachments in Shivajinagar? Is there one law for some areas and another law for the rest of Bengaluru?” he questioned.
Demanding immediate action, the BJP leader urged the government to arrest all those responsible without delay and ensure adequate security for civic officials carrying out demolition drives across the city. “The officers were only performing their official duties. Such attacks send a dangerous message to every government employee. The state must guarantee their safety”, he said.
The attack has once again brought the issue of illegal encroachments and enforcement challenges in Bengaluru into sharp focus. Civic officials have repeatedly complained that demolition drives often face stiff resistance from encroachers, making enforcement increasingly difficult.
Despite the attack, the Greater Bengaluru Authority resumed the anti-encroachment operation later in the day under heavy police protection. Senior police officers supervised the operation, while Central Bengaluru Municipal Commissioner Jagadish and GBA Union President Amruth Raj led the renewed drive. With a large contingent of police deployed at the site, officials continued the demolition without interruption.
Using JCB machines, the civic authorities removed all remaining illegal structures and cleared the encroachments from the footpaths, restoring pedestrian access in the area. The renewed operation demonstrated that the authorities would not be deterred by violence, officials said.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked a political confrontation, with the BJP accusing the Congress government of selective enforcement and failing to uphold law and order, while the state government has maintained that strict action will be taken against those involved in the assault.
Police have registered a case based on the complaint filed by the injured officials and have launched an investigation. CCTV footage and viral videos are being examined to identify all those involved in the attack.
The incident has intensified demands for stronger security measures for civic enforcement personnel, with many officials warning that attacks on government staff could seriously hamper future anti-encroachment drives if strict action is not taken against the perpetrators.
