GBA engineer assaulted during footpath clearance drive near Shivajinagar, five persons detained

Police have arrested five persons in connection with the alleged assault on a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) official during a footpath encroachment clearance drive near the Shivajinagar Bus Stand on July 21.

Assault on GBA official in Bengaluru

Assistant Executive Engineer Madhav Rao was assaulted by some persons while supervising an anti-encroachment operation conducted by GBA personnel near the Shivajinagar Bus Stand on July 21, 2026. | Video Credit: The Hindu

According to officials, the main accused, Basavaraj Pudukote, is president of the State unit of Karnataka Sene. He is yet to be arrested.

Authorities said all those involved in the attack will be booked under Section 307 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with attempt to murder.

According to officials, Assistant Executive Engineer Madhav Rao was attacked while supervising an anti-encroachment operation conducted by GBA personnel. The assailants allegedly obstructed the drive before assaulting the officer, and fleeing from the spot.

A complaint has been registered at the Commercial Street Police Station. Police launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those involved. Authorities are probing whether the assault was linked to opposition to the ongoing drive to remove encroachments on footpaths.

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said, “I have spoken to the Commissioner of Police and GBA officials. All those who have assaulted government representatives during the Safe Footpath Campaign will be arrested. Assaulting public servants while they are implementing the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court is a serious violation of the law.”

Mr. Byre Gowda asserted that the government stands firmly behind officials carrying out their duties in accordance with the law, and warned that those attacking public servants would not be spared.

“The government stands solidly with officers discharging public duty as per law. We are taking exemplary action against those responsible,” he said, adding that he was personally monitoring the follow-up with the GBA and the police.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Employees’ Association has demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for allegedly assaulting Assistant Executive Engineer Madhav Rao.

A. Amruth Raj, president of the association, condemned the attack and urged the police to swiftly apprehend the accused.

“The brutal assault on Assistant Executive Engineer Madhav Rao while he was carrying out a footpath clearance drive is unacceptable. We demand immediate arrest of the unidentified persons involved in the attack,” according to a statement issued by the association.

The association warned that if the accused are not arrested without delay, employees of all five civic zones under the Greater Bengaluru Authority would suspend their work in protest.

The employees’ body urged the police and the government of Karnataka to ensure the safety of officials carrying out their duties, and to take stringent action against those responsible for the assault.

The police investigation is focusing on identifying the role of each accused, and ascertaining the circumstances leading to the assault on the GBA official.

Video is key evidence

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar said, “The officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) were carrying out footpath clearance operation in compliance with a court order when they were allegedly obstructed and attacked. The officials should not have been assaulted while they were performing their official duties. Our officers rushed to the spot immediately after the incident.”

He added that the assault was captured on video, which has become a key piece of evidence in the investigation.

Police have so far arrested five accused in connection with the attack, and said efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the others involved.

“We will arrest everyone who had participated in the assault. Our officers are gathering information about the background of the accused,” the Police Commissioner said.