Bengaluru: HAL police on Wednesday arrested BBMP senior health inspector and deputy health officer in connection with the death of two workers due to manual scavenging.
The two workers were engaged by Yumlok hotel management in AECS Layout to clean a septic tank and died due to asphyxiation. The hotel manager Ayush Gupta (22) and caretaker Venkatesh (43) were arrested on Tuesday, while the police are on the lookout for the hotel owner Avinash Gupta.
The senior health inspector, Devaraj, and DHO (Mahadevpura Zone), Kalpana, were arrested on charges of causing death due to negligence.
According to police, Yumlok hotel management had taken permission from BBMP to run its business on the first floor of the commercial complex Prema Paradise, but extended their operation to the basement. Devaraj and Kalpana who are jurisdictional health officers did not take any action against the management, despite being aware of it.
The police said the health officers were informed about this development long back, but they chose not to act. The 43rd ACMM court has sent all the four to judicial custody.
Workers hired for Rs 3,500
Ramu (25) and Ravi (28), who died on Tuesday while cleaning the septic tank were hired by Venkatesh for Rs 3,500. It is learnt that the duo had come to the city in search of work, but did not find any and agreed to eke out a living through cleaning work and eventually paid with their lives. The workers were not provided any safety equipment.
Drive against scavenging
City Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar on Wednesday wrote to the BBMP to conduct a drive and take action against those violating the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
Rs 10 lakh aid to the affected families
Karnataka State Safai Karamchari Commission Chairperson Venkatesh, along with National Safai Karamchari Commission member Jagadish Hiremani, officials of the state Social Welfare Department and BBMP Joint Commissioner (Mahadevapura zone) Vasanthi inspected the spot and met with the family members of the deceased workers.
The officials present assured payment of Rs 10 lakh compensation to the families of the deceased workers, compensatory appointment to one member of each family, allotment of a house by the BBMP and free education for the children of the deceased workers. The Safaikaramchari Commission representatives directed the BBMP to initiate action against the previous SWM contractor for cheating the workers of their wages, arrears and Provident Fund and ensure that all dues are paid to the workers.
