GG News Bureau
Haveri, 8th June: At least seven individuals have been arrested for allegedly attacking civic workers of the Haveri City Municipal Council after officials removed an unauthorised birthday banner, police said on Saturday.
The incident began on June 5 when municipal staffer Rangappa C Herkal took down a banner put up by one of the accused, Shantappa alias Shantu, following the municipal commissioner’s directive. In retaliation, another accused, Akshata KC, allegedly abused Rangappa over the phone.
Matters escalated when six men, reportedly carrying deadly weapons, stormed the municipal office later that day and assaulted several staff members. Two contract workers, Peerappa Shirabadagi and Kanthesh, were severely injured after being struck with a scooter handle. They were also allegedly subjected to verbal abuse and death threats.
A police complaint was subsequently lodged by Mr Shirabadagi, based on which a case was registered against the accused under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including assault and criminal intimidation.
The violence did not stop there. On June 7, the conflict intensified when about ten men, including Akshata KC, entered a local bar armed with weapons and launched a brutal attack on another civic worker named Raju. A video of the incident, now viral on social media, shows the attackers hitting Raju on the head with a cricket bat and smashing beer bottles on his face.
The seven arrested have been identified as Shantappa, Arjuna, Pratham, Fakkiresh Koravar, Mukesh, Prajwal, and Ganesh. Police are continuing their investigation to trace the remaining accused and have assured strict action against those involved.
The incident has triggered outrage across the city, with civic workers demanding better protection while discharging official duties.
