BENGALURU: A June 9 New Indian Express report exposing officials apathy in compensating the family of an excavator operator who was washed away while cleaning a storm water drain in the city, rocked the State Assembly on Wednesday morning.
Soon after the session began, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar, flashed a clipping of the New Indian Express report and gave an earful to officials for being insensitive to the family.
Shettar accused officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for allegedly demanding bribe from the deceased Shantakumar’s family in return for compensation.
Shantakumar was washed away in a storm water drain on May 20, and search operations by cops and BBMP officials were called off after three days.
Compensation was announced by the city mayor while search operations were ongoing.
However, when nothing arrived, Shantakumar’s family went to the corporation headquarters, but was asked to bring her husband’s body to claim the compensation or wait for seven years.