The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Pattandur residents protest by bathing with sewage

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Tuesday, Aug 17, 2010
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Pattandur residents protest by bathing with sewage

Special Correspondent

Earlier protests have gone unheeded, say protesters

— PHOTO: K. GOPINATHAN

DISHING OUT THE DIRT:Pattandur residents dousing themselves with drain water in front of the

Bangalore: People from Ambedkar Nagar in Pattandur Agrahara village near Whitefield staged a protest in front of the Vidhana Soudha here on Monday by pouring filth from the sewage over their heads against alleged encroachment by builders of land earmarked to provide housing for the poor.

In what was reminiscent of the protest in Savanur where members of the Bhangi community took a “filth bath” demanding housing rights, the protestors here alleged that “land sharks” had denied them their “genuine housing rights”.

They said that their act was a desperate measure as their earlier protests had gone unheeded by authorities. “We staged a similar protest near Whitefield on August 14,” said V. Munivenkata, one of the protestors.

His compatriot Rafi Ahmed told The Hindu that 47.9 guntas of land were allotted for housing sites for the poor in 1974 in the village.

While 600 families lived in the area, the remaining 84 housing sites had been vacant, he said.

Mr. Munivenkata alleged that a private construction company had encroached upon this land with the “connivance” of the local police.

The police had been harassing them every time they complained rather than help them get back the land, he said.

Mr. Ahmed alleged that A.R. Anniah, who had gone to the police station to demand justice, was arrested on false charges, and sought a Lokayukta inquiry into it.

What the police say

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) S. Ramesh arranged a vehicle for the protestors to meet Deputy Commissioner (Bangalore urban) M.K. Ayyappa where the latter mollified them.

Later, the protesters met Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari and complained against Whitefield Police Inspector Gopalakrishna.

A senior police officer said that the war was over real estate, with the protesters themselves involved in the business as they had sold their land to builders and others.

Now they are also eying the gomala area (grazing land), he said.

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