Bengaluru EPF row: 222 people arrested for riots during the protests

BENGALURU: Amid finger-pointing and foot-dragging on a full-fledged police inquiry, police have stepped up arrests of people suspected of involvement with the riots during the protest by garment factory workers on Monday and Tuesday, bringing the total number of arrests to 222.

While the city police have arrested 168 people, the Bengaluru Rural police have arrested 54. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order - West) Charan Reddy said that the police had arrested 168 people including eight women in connection with the riots.

“They have been arrested on charges of assaulting policemen, damaging public property, rioting and other charges. The arrests will continue and the police teams are on the look out for others who are absconding,” he said, adding that many of the people, who were detained in connection with the incident were let off after questioning.

Police are verifying videos of the riots to identify those involved in violence. “Apart from the videos recorded by police staff, we are also going through the CCTV footage available. We are doing it to know who are involved in stone pelting, arson, and assault on policemen. Some of them found in the footage have already been arrested while efforts are on to nab others,” another official said. Bengaluru Rural SP Ramesh B. confirmed that the Rural police had arrested 54 people on charges of riots on Monday and Tuesday.

5 cops face FIR
An FIR has been registered against Hulimavu police station inspector and four other staff on charges of assaulting a TV journalist, who was covering the protests by garment factory workers on Tuesday.

Both the city police and the rural police have submitted reports in connection with the riots to the DG & IGP. However, no inquiry has been ordered into the incident. “Inquiry will be initiated only if there is any death. As there was no death due to riots, no inquiry has been initiated,” said a police official.