BTDA staff protest assault, demand farmer’s arrest

Bagalkot: Condemning the assault on a staff member by farmer Basappa Doddamani, employees of the Bagalkot Town Development Authority (BTDA) and members of the govt employees’ association staged a protest here on Monday, demanding his immediate arrest.Addressing the dharna, MB Ballari, president of the District Govt Employees Association, said Doddamani has been granted station bail and such incidents of assault could recur against employees and officers. “Police have registered a case based on the complaint filed by BTDA first division clerk Neelakantha Ankad. We will urge higher BTDA officials to file another complaint under appropriate Acts to ensure his arrest.

BTDA employees should stop all services until Doddamani is arrested,” he said.He added that he would meet the SP to press for immediate action. “If he is not arrested, it will send a wrong message to the public and attacks on govt employees may rise in the coming days,” he said.Neelakantha Ankad’s wife Sujata said that though her husband was not directly handling Doddamani’s compensation case, he was attacked with a slipper. “We have lost our sleep after the incident. The govt should ensure safety and security for its employees,” she said.Farmer Doddamani allegedly assaulted BTDA FDC Ankad on Saturday, accusing the department of not clearing compensation for his four acres of submerged land for nearly 10 years. A video of the incident has since gone viral.