Bengaluru: GBA officials attacked during anti-encroachment drive

In Karnataka, street vendors allegedly attacked five Bengaluru municipal officers and employees, who had gone to clear encroachments from a Shivaji Nagar footpath. All the 10 accused have been arrested, police said. On Tuesday,when a team of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) officials reached Shivaji Nagar, some people allegedly turned violent, dragging Assistant Executive Engineer Gowtham and a few other officials onto the road, before assaulting them.They allegedly used pepper spray on another official named Ruchitha.According to reports, the injured officials- Madhavrao (AEE), Savitri (AEE), Ruchitha (AE) and outsourced employees Siddappa and Sunil -- are under treatment at Bowring Hospital.

Ten people were taken into custody after GBA officials were attacked while clearing footpath encroachments in Shivajinagar.

Corporation Commissioner has requested the police to invoke stringent provisions against those invoked. pic.twitter.com/SoNLUBxQ1C

— Naveen Menezes (@naveenmzs) July 21, 2026

Reacting strongly to the incident, Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda said: “Attempt-to-murder charges will be pressed. I have instructed the commissioner of police and GBA officials to take strict action.” The Bengaluru development minister said Kannada activist Basavaraj Padukotee was also allegedly involved in the incident and would be taken into custody. “These are anti-social elements. Assaulting govt representatives while implementing Supreme Court directives is a serious violation of law. We stand firmly with these officers,” he added.

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

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 21, 2026

According to DCP (East) Vikram Amathe, two men initially got into an argument with the civic team. “Soon, others joined them and they abused and attacked the staffers, including women. Pepper spray was also used during the attack,” Amathe said. Denouncing the attack, GBA Employees’ Union president Amruth Raj, along with a large number of GBA employees, staged a demonstration in front of the Commercial Street police station. He said the accused had been identified and should be arrested immediately. “It is highly deplorable that the attack took place in the presence of the police. We demand strong police protection. We will not stop this drive midway; we will complete it,” the union president said. He said the employees would suspend all work, including the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, if the accused were not arrested.

(State Correspondent)