Karnataka Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Tuesday said that 10 people have been arrested in connection with the attack on officials associated with Bengaluru's Safe Footpath Campaign, and that the alleged gangster Basavaraj will also be arrested soon.
The minister said Basavaraj had been “reaching out from the wrong place and taking money as he was illegally encroaching on the pedestrian footpaths and operating through a criminal network.” He told reporters in Delhi that Basavaraj was “trying to extort money from people by illegally violating security on the road at night and using that as a criminal network."
VIDEO | Delhi: “Gangster Basavaraj extorted money by encroaching pedestrian paths, his gang attacking officials of Bengaluru's Safe Footpath Campaign cannot be tolerated; 10 people involved in the assault have been arrested and Basavaraj will also be arrested soon”, says… pic.twitter.com/Vc26O9VHlm
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Gangster Basavaraj extorted money by encroaching pedestrian paths. His gang attacking officials of Bengaluru’s Safe Footpath Campaign cannot be tolerated. Ten people involved in the assault have been arrested, and Basavaraj will also be arrested soon," Krishna Byre Gowda said.
The minister said the Karnataka government would not tolerate attacks on public officials carrying out their duties. He said strict legal action would be taken against all those responsible for the assault.
The Safe Footpath Campaign is part of Bengaluru’s broader initiative to remove illegal encroachments from pedestrian pathways, improve public infrastructure, and ensure safer access for pedestrians across the city. There have been drives to clear unauthorized structures and reclaim public spaces for citizens.
The minister said that the encroachments were illegal and attempts to remove them were met with violent resistance from the gang. Police are now investigating officials in a new way.
Police have already arrested 10 people for the assault. Additional suspects are being sought, and evidence is being collected.
Krishna Byre Gowda said law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing Basavaraj and that he will be arrested soon. The government is committed to protecting public servants and citizens from intimidation, he said.
The incident has brought back to the forefront the challenges that civic authorities face when they carry out anti-encroachment campaigns in rapidly growing urban areas. This will not stop efforts to reclaim public spaces and improve pedestrian safety, officials have said.
Some more details will be revealed in the police investigation, and actions will be taken against those who were suspected of being involved in this attack.
