BENGALURU: While the commissioning of the Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) is a good news for many across the city, residents of Balagere are upset over the destruction of their drains and roads in the process. A group of protestors from the neighbourhood, including women and children holding placards and demanding facilities were forced by the police to leave the venue .
Three male protestors were taken to the police station, made to wait there for nearly 90 minutes and their mobile phones were taken from them. Speaking to Express, one of the protestors (names withheld on request) said that they protested in support of four of their demands — roads, drainage, street lights and security for women living in the area.
“We waited from 4 pm but were repeatedly asked by CM’s security police to vacate the area just before his convoy arrived,” he said. One of the cops took three members in a police vehicle to the Varthur police station. “Assuming that we were protesting on behalf of political opponents, they cautioned us not to get involved in politics as it will affect our families in the future,” another protestor said.
“Our roads were damaged and pipelines were laid. But the roads have not been restored. Our drains were opened up but not closed properly,” another protestor said.