In a brazen incident of highhandedness by authorities, a teenager was thrashed by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials for apparently not cooperating when asked to be tested for coronavirus. A video being circulated shows the boy being mercilessly beaten. BBMP officials on condition of anonymity confirmed that the incident took place in Nagarathpet which comes under Dharmaraya Swamy Temple ward in Chickpet constituency of the South Zone. Police in Bengaluru has said that the altercation took place after the boy had initially mistaken the testing booth for a vaccination camp. "Daily, BBMP officials from Dasappa BBMP Hospital conduct Covid testing on Nagaratpete Main Road. Today, a person by name (name masked), mistook it for vaccination and registered himself. When the OTP was generated, he realised it was for Covid testing and not for vaccination and therefore refused to undergo the test. At this juncture he was assaulted by a BBMP Booth level officer by name Nagabhushan. Suo moto FIR under sections 341, 323, 504 of IPC against errant official," jursdictional DCP Anuchet told reprorters.
In the video, a boy wearing a blue shirt can be seen being overpowered by two officials wearing peach and white shirts. While the man in the white is holding the young boy’s hands, the other man is seen hitting the boy on his neck and face. The boy helplessly tries to defend himself but is forced to the ground. Later, one official is seen holding the boy’s neck and almost banging the his head on a table. While this happens, two other men passing by are seen trying to pacify the two officials. But the other officials sitting at the table seem reluctant to stop the two officials.
Some questioned why the boy was forced to take a test when he was apparently asymptomatic, given that the state government has decided not to test asymptomatic people. On the other hand, many people across the state have complained that they have been refused tests by officials for being asymptomatic.
This teenager is beaten only to go for #COVID19 testing in #Bangalore ,Boy saying he has no symptoms of infection but officials compelling and beating #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/PfZmoiknoD
— Ashraf Wani اشرف وانی (@ashraf_wani) May 24, 2021
Reacting to the incident, BBMP Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said that a departmental investigation has been ordered. He said that strict action will be taken against the guilty. He said that officials cannot force people even though the BBMP is trying to ramp up test numbers.
We regret the incident at Nagarathpet testing booth. There is no question of forceful testing.
— Gaurav Gupta,IAS (@BBMPCOMM) May 24, 2021
We condemn any physical altercation that has happened. Enquiry would be conducted to find out what led to this, who is responsible, and also to prevent any such recurrence.
In light of the video going viral, other videos of BBMP’s alleged highhandedness in other parts of the city too have surfaced. One video shows a man being seemingly forced out of a building by officials. It is alleged that the incident also took place in the same area.
Another one at same area. pic.twitter.com/kbzIrrM0na
— Vicky Sulegai (@SulegaiVicky) May 24, 2021
TNM had reported similar situations taking place in mid-March in Majestic and other busy areas of the city in the name of random testing. It was then reported how among other factors testing targets for field teams resulted in harassment of the public.