Man Armed with Pickaxe Attempts to Vandalize Former CM's Statue in Bengaluru, Injures Police Officer
In a shocking incident in Bengaluru, a man armed with a pickaxe attempted to vandalize the statue of former chief minister R Gundu Rao at Shantala Circle on Monday morning. The attack resulted in injuries to an assistant sub-inspector who intervened to stop the vandalism.
Dramatic Confrontation at Shantala Circle
The incident occurred between 11:30 AM and 11:45 AM when Assistant Sub-Inspector Venkataswamy TV and Constable Yamanappa Madar from Cottonpet police station were on routine Hoysala patrol duty. A passerby alerted them about a man attempting to damage the statue at Shantala Circle.
Upon reaching the spot, the officers found 35-year-old Veerabadra, a native of Ballari who had come to the city for labor work, shirtless and climbing the statue with a pickaxe in hand. The man was actively attempting to damage the monument when police arrived at the scene.
Violent Resistance and Police Injury
When officers asked Veerabadra to come down from the statue, he turned aggressive and began hurling abuse at both police personnel and bystanders. The situation escalated when he attempted to attack the officers with the pickaxe he was carrying.
During the ensuing scuffle, Assistant Sub-Inspector Venkataswamy sustained a facial injury while trying to subdue the accused. The confrontation turned physical as the man resisted arrest and continued his aggressive behavior toward law enforcement.
Public Assistance Leads to Arrest
With help from members of the public who witnessed the incident, police officers used ropes and wooden logs to pull Veerabadra down from the statue and overpower him. They eventually managed to snatch the pickaxe from his possession, neutralizing the immediate threat.
Some members of the public reportedly assaulted the accused after he was brought down from the statue. Police took Veerabadra into custody following the dramatic confrontation at the public circle.
Investigation Reveals Alcohol Influence
During subsequent interrogation, police discovered that Veerabadra was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. Investigators found no clear motive for his attempted vandalism of the former chief minister's statue.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Venkataswamy received medical treatment at a private hospital for the injury sustained during the altercation. The injured officer is expected to recover from the facial wound he suffered while trying to apprehend the suspect.
Legal Proceedings Underway
The accused, Veerabadra, is currently in judicial custody as legal proceedings move forward. Police have registered a case against him for attempted vandalism, assault on a public servant, and related charges stemming from the Monday morning incident.
The statue of former chief minister R Gundu Rao, a prominent political figure who served from 1980 to 1983, stands at Shantala Circle as a public monument. The attempted vandalism has drawn attention to security measures around public statues in the city.
