Enraged over poor lighting that allegedly led to a pedestrian being killed in a hit-and-run accident, villagers attacked a route patrolling officer and two others before damaging their vehicle at Tippasandra hand post at Tippasandra village in Magadi taluk of Ramanagara district on Thursday, August 24, evening.
Rajanna, 43, and his assistant Puttaswamy and driver Manjunath, part of the Nelamangala – Devihalli Expressway patrolling squad, rushed to the spot after being intimated about the accidental death of a pedestrian, which had led to villagers blocking the highway. The villagers attacked the trio, accusing them of not illuminating the area properly and blaming that for the accident.
The protesters beat up the trio, damaged the patrolling vehicle and took away the dashcam, bar light indicators, public address system, toolkit and safety cones, the officials have alleged. As police reinforcements arrived at the spot, the protesters fled. The police rushed the patrolling party who had been attacked by villagers to a hospital, where they are under treatment.
Third attack
Jayarame Gowda, manager of the patrolling squad, told The Hindu that villagers were miffed over poor lighting at the accident spot and attacked the patrolling staff, accusing them of being responsible for the death. NHAI officials are responsible for the lighting and other infrastructure while patrolling staff are responsible for only helping people in distress on the highway, enforcing traffic rules and clearing the traffic, he said.
This is the third such attack on the patrolling staff on this stretch. The other patrolling staff members refused to go to work fearing the villagers for the last two days, he added.
Based on the complaint by Mr. Gowda on August 25, the Kudur police have registered a case against unknown people charging them under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 427 (mischief causing damage), and 56 (criminal intimidation).
