Publicity seeking lands Bengaluru auto-rickshaw drivers in police net

In a bizarre incident reported from Bengaluru, two auto-rickshaw drivers have been arrested for allegedly dropping a cockroach in the food served at Indira Canteen, the state government's flagship programme.

On being questioned they said they did it to seek 'publicity.'   

Hemanth, Devaraj and their friends had gone to have food at Indira Canteen in Kamakshipalya on Friday and ‘found’ a cockroach in the food following which they created an uproar. 

They also threatened the people who were serving the food and alerted people not to eat there, police said.  

The CCTV footage from the cameras installed inside the canteen supposedly showed Hemanth putting the cockroach in the food which he brought along with him. Devaraj reportedly knew this yet he supported Hemanth's claim, said police.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city civic body which is executing the programme, handed over the video footage to police and lodged a complaint against Hemanth and his friends.

"We have arrested Hemanth and Devaraj. They are autorickshaw drivers from Kamakshipalya. During interrogation they revealed that they did it to seek publicity," a police official said.

He said they were not affiliated to any political party.

The state government launched the Indira canteens on August 15 offering food at subsidised rates. Breakfast and meals are served at Rs five and Rs 10 respectively.

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