Bengaluru Shivajinagar footpath clearance assault: 10 arrested

Bengaluru: The Commercial Street police have arrested 10 persons belonging to a pro-Kannada organisation for beating up the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials, including Engineer and an assistant Engineer during the GBA's footpath encroachment clearance drive at Shivajinagar.Bengaluru, Karnataka: A joint operation by Bengaluru Police and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) removed footpath encroachments around the Shivajinagar Bus Stand. Senior police and civic officials supervised the drive as authorities cleared shops and structures occupying… pic.twitter.com/Sjkukwshbu— IANS (@ians_india) July 21, 2026 The arrested have been identified as Basavaraj Padukote, a local pro-Kannada organisation head, his associates Kiran, Basavaraj, Ranjith, Rangaswamy, Mujahid Ahamed, Kotresh, Parashuram, Raghu, Parthiban and Bharath.It was revealed that the GBA had cleared a hotel belonging to Basavaraj Padukote, which he had constructed encroaching the entire footpath and used Bowring hospital compound as back wall. He tried to argue that the GBA tried to demolish the Kannada flag and a Ganesha temple. However, the police arrested him..@GBA_office officials conducting a footpath clearance drive in #Bengaluru 's Shivajinagar were allegedly abused and assaulted by miscreants opposing the operation. AEE Madhav Rao, AE Gautam and official Ruchita were among those attacked. A complaint is being filed. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/ZhvJTRsR6D— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) July 21, 2026 For the last fortnight, the GBA officials have taken up footpath encroachment clearance drives all over the city to ensure safety of the pedestrians. For the last six days, the encroachment clearance was taking place near Shivajinagar. After completing the Russel Market area, the officials had taken up the main Shivajinagar bus stop area. When the GBA team comprising Engineers Madhava Rao, Savithri, Assistant Engineer Ruchita and earth mover driver Siddappa started clearance work near the bus stand, the gang suddenly attacked the team with pepper spray. When Engineer Madhava Rao and the tractor driver Sunil tried to escape, the gang started assaulting them with helmets, chairs and dragged them to the road. The GBA officials called for the police help, but neither the police, nor the GBA Marshals who were posted in the area came for their rescue. Some of the passersby rescued the officials from the attackers and sent them away.Later, GBA  Commissioner Maheshwara Rao lodged a complaint with the Commercial Street police.Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad rushed to the spot and directed the police to initiate strict action against those obstructing the footpath encroachment removal drive. Krishna Byre Gowda said that the Goonda Act  would be invoked against Padukote and his gang.

Ten individuals were arrested for assaulting Greater Bengaluru Authority officials. The incident occurred during a court-ordered footpath clearance drive near Shivajinagar Bus Stand. Officials reported being obstructed and sprayed with a substance by a group of people. Police registered a case based on a complaint filed by an Assistant Executive Engineer. Authorities are working to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the attack.

Violence erupted during an anti-footpath encroachment drive in Bengaluru's Shivajinagar after street vendors allegedly attacked Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials who had arrived to clear encroachments from public footpaths.