Karnataka govt officer attacked for excluding Bangladesh, Pak nationals in SIR list: BJP
Karnataka govt officer attacked for excluding Bangladesh, Pak nationals in SIR
Incident Sparks Political Firestorm
Bharatmorningnews.com – A senior government official faced a brutal assault in Bengaluru’s Pulakeshi Nagar area on Thursday after refusing to include citizens from Bangladesh and Pakistan in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter list. The incident has triggered strong reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with senior leaders demanding immediate action from the state administration.
S Harish, Bengaluru North BJP president and former deputy mayor, was among the first to condemn the attack. He stated that the government employee, identified as Fakirappa, was targeted by approximately eight individuals who were pressuring him to add foreign nationals to the electoral rolls. The assault reportedly took place during routine revision work at one of the ten polling booths under Fakirappa’s supervision.
According to Harish, the confrontation escalated when Fakirappa firmly rejected the demands of the group. He explained that the officer maintained that Bangladeshis and Pakistanis were infiltrators without proper documentation, making them ineligible for inclusion in the voter registry. This principled stand apparently provoked the violent response from the aggrieved party.
Medical Treatment and Ongoing Investigation
Fakirappa was rushed to a nearby hospital where medical personnel treated multiple injuries, including cuts to his lips and damaged teeth. The severity of the assault left the officer visibly shaken and reluctant to speak publicly about the incident. Harish alleged that local political figures, including Muslim leaders and the area MLA, had been exerting pressure on the official to reverse his decision.
Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the assault, though investigations are ongoing to identify additional participants. Harish expressed concern that authorities were attempting to downplay the significance of the incident and minimize public awareness of what he described as a coordinated effort to influence the SIR process.
The BJP leader drew parallels between this incident and previous disturbances in the DJ Halli area during 2020. He claimed that several individuals involved in the current assault were also responsible for attacking police personnel and infrastructure during the earlier unrest. This connection, according to Harish, highlights a pattern of recurring law and order challenges in the region.
BJP Calls for Ministerial Resignation
Harish directed his criticism toward Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, questioning whether the administration was adequately protecting government officials. He emphasized that the daytime assault on a public servant in a busy neighborhood raised serious concerns about governance priorities and the safety of civil servants performing their duties.
The BJP president also referenced recent political developments, specifically comparing the situation to demands for former Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation following allegations of irregularities in NEET examination papers. He argued that just as national leaders faced accountability for perceived failures, state officials should not be exempt from similar scrutiny.
Harish concluded by reiterating the BJP’s formal demand for Kharge’s immediate resignation. He called for urgent implementation of protective measures for all personnel engaged in the SIR process, ensuring they can work without fear of intimidation or violence. The party has requested that the state government conduct a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the assault and take appropriate disciplinary action against those responsible.
As the political debate intensifies, the incident has sparked broader discussions about electoral integrity, immigration policy implementation, and the role of government officials in maintaining transparent and fair voter registration processes across Karnataka.