The Anekal police have detained 10 rowdies, including a woman, for allegedly campaigning for a local politician ahead of the general elections. However, the FIR made no mention of the name of candidate or the party he or she belongs to.
They accused — all history-sheeters — were caught in the act of threatening residents and extracting promises for their votes by police units that were patrolling Jai Bhim Nagar and Badripura.
The police rounded up Ramanjini, 38, a rowdy-sheeter with the Anekal police since 2016; Suresh Babu, 45, a milk vendor; Yellappa, 50, a vegetable vendor; Dilip, 23, tempo driver; Renukesh, 23, a construction labourer; Nagaraju, 50, a weaver; Dilip, 30, a tractor driver; V. Shankar, 50, a tout at the taluk office; Anand, 31, a vegetable vendor, and Bharathi, 33, a milk vendor.
Most of the accused are named in multiple criminal cases, said the police.
They were reportedly threatening residents and promising to make their lives difficult if they did not vote for the candidate. They have been booked under Section 110 of the Criminal Procedure Code (habitually commits, or attempts to commit, or abets the commission of, the offence of kidnapping).
“The accused were gearing up for the upcoming elections and posing a threat to free and fair elections,” said a senior police officer.