A BBMP councillor has filed a complaint with the City Police Commissioner saying he is being threatened by local goons who have muscled into public property, turning it into moneymaking parking slots.
Dhanraj P., Dharmarayaswamy Temple ward councillor, told The Hindu vested interests had encroached upon public toilets constructed near Arumugam Mudaliar Road in Kalasipalya when Pramila Nesargi was the MLA in 1994.
“It is a market area where many vegetable vendors come around 5 a.m. Over the years, these local goons gradually took over the area by demolishing these toilets one by one,” he said.
They then started renting the space for parking, charging Rs. 2 to Rs. 10 for vehicles, easily raking in quite a packet every day.
New project
“When I became the councillor, I requested for public toilets as such a market area needs the facility,” Mr. Dhanraj said.
Even though the work order for a Rs. 20-lakh project was issued almost two years ago, construction had been continuously delayed as the goons would threaten the workers. But, he said, he kept up the pressure with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike council and the Commissioner promised recently that work would begin in a fortnight. However, when the labourers went to the area to undertake the work, the goons yet again threatened them saying they would kill the councillor of the area.
“They also threatened me directly, following which I filed the complaint with the Kalasipalya police, Chickpet Subdivision Assistant Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) and the Commissioner requesting protection. The men who threatened me, Adimoolam and Seena, also are wanted by the police in other cases,” he said.
