They are alleged to have attacked revenue department staff conducting a formal land encroachment survey in Channiganapalya village, Magadi taluk, in the Karnataka district of Ramanagara.
A police report stated that there was a violent assault consisting of sticks and physical attack, and two government employees received injuries, according to police, which shocked the local population regarding the security of employees working at official events.
The violence, police said, was blamed on a convoy of revenue department officers who went to Survey Number 42/1 that residents said encroached on government land in Channiganapalya village. In an attempt to cope with the complaints, village authorities made a land survey investigation against the encroachments and filed an official statement.
Complicating matters further were multiple suspected opponents of the examination who were alleged to challenge the inquiry. Jayamma, Chandrashekar and Mohan, the accused, had a confrontation with VAO Honappa, and they asked about the location of the land survey.
What started as a verbal disagreement soon turned violent. VAO Honappa was reportedly hit with sticks and kept being hit while he tried to get the situation addressed. Witnesses said they continued beating him by kicking him as they attacked him. And the attack, bloody and vicious, resulted in panic in the village with neighbouring residents flocking to the scene.
They reported a village assistant named Bharat also reportedly jumped in and assisted Honappa in escaping the attack. Both were taken to Channapatna Taluk Hospital. The wounded officials were recovering, and they had been observed, medical sources said. Such attacks have already sounded the alarm on the growing number of deadly attacks on government personnel performing their tasks.
The attacks have focused on sensitive issues such as land claims and intrusions. After receiving a complaint, the Magadi Police made a case and investigated the attack. The police arrested all three suspects later, who were suspected of participating in the attack. Further legal action could be taken then, and proof by other parties could possibly take place.
The assault was criticised by various authorities, some of whom deemed it an assault on legal principles and administrative efficiency. It will also be raised by groups of government officials at other levels of authority, and will also call for officers doing rural scouting and anti-encroachment campaigns to have harsher action taken against the men who assault. No one would be free of punishment, and strict procedures will be imposed on those who attack them, police said.
