Bengaluru: Officials hit youths for not taking Covid test

BENGALURU: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials drew public ire after assaulting three youths and forced them to take Covid-19 tests near Dharmaraya Swamy Temple in Nagarathpet on Monday.
In a 92-second video, two youths were seen being beaten up after they refused to take tests. According to sources, the youths initially thought it was vaccination drive but later discovered they were conducting tests. They were hit on the face, thrown to the ground and were kicked. Two passers-by were seen trying to pacify the two officials. But the other officials sitting at the table seem reluctant to stop their colleagues.
Two other videos — one a 30-second clip and another 1.51-minute video — where other youths were seen being assaulted. The videos shot by residents went viral in just one hour.
“In the name of random testing, officers stop passersby and ask them to take the test,” a resident said.
In some cases, they first say they are vaccinating. After collecting data and once OTP is generated, they reveal they are conducting tests. If the person refuses, then they overpower them,” a resident said.
BBMP chief commissioner Gaurav Gupta tweeted, “We regret the incident at Nagarathpet testing booth. There is no question of forceful testing. We condemn any physical altercation that has happened. An inquiry would be conducted to find out what led to this, who is responsible, and prevent any such recurrence.”
Deputy commissioner of police MN Anucheth said, “BBMP officials are conducting tests every day on Nagaratpet main road. On Monday, a person named by Kishan mistook it for vaccination and registered himself. When the OTP was generated, he realised it was for Covid testing. Therefore, he refused to undergo the test. At this juncture, he was assaulted by a BBMP booth-level officer by name Nagabhushan (which can be seen in the video). Halasurugate police enquired into the incident and registered a suo motu FIR against the officer under the Indian Penal Code.”
About multiple videos doing the rounds where more than one youth have been assaulted, Anucheth said, “We are verifying them. We need to trace the complainants and record their statement. No arrests have been made so far. The offences are bailable. Notice has been issued to accused.”
Veerabhadraswamy, joint commissioner of BBMP south zone, said the officials seen assaulting the youths are Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation officials on deputation to the civic body. “We have issued notices to them and they are supposed to appear before us at 11am on Tuesday,” he added.