Tide turns for corporator

BANGALORE: Corporator N Chandra is in the soup now. A day after he and his henchmen allegedly attacked Lake Development Authority chief U V Singh, Chandra spent the day running from pillar to post to save his skin.
On Monday, the city police also filed an additional FIR, charging the corporator and his henchmen with attempt to murder. Chandra himself attempted sell the vehicle which was used during the attack, so that he could destroy evidence.
Meanwhile, chief secretary S V Ranganath and DG&IGP S T Ramesh visited Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde, and assured him that the attackers would not be spared.
COPS GET TOUGH
They took the complaint lightly on Sunday, but on Monday, the Amruthahalli police swung into action. The incident took place at 1.40 pm on Sunday, and the police had filed an FIR late in the evening, booking the corporator and his followers for attacking an officer and obstructing his duty.
On Monday, an additional FIR was submitted to the chief metropolitan magistrate, including Sec 307 of IPC, which amounts to attempt to murder.
DCP (North-East) Ravikanthe Gowda said the police had identified the corporator, who had falsely introduced himself as Manju. He turned out to be N Chandra, corporator from Ramaswamy Palya, and his associate, Balaji. "We were told that there were 10-15 people involved in the attack and we are trying to track them,'' he said.
CORPORATOR ON THE RUN
Meanwhile, Chandra is said to be on the run. He has switched off his mobile phone. Police got information that Chandra and his followers had made a futile attempt to get the number of the vehicle changed and dispose of it too. However, when that failed, he started running around to find a good advocate to handle his case.
"But we've got his vehicle number and confirmed that he was the person on the spot. Now, it is too late for him to destroy evidence,'' Ravikanthe Gowda said.
CS, DG&IGP CALLS ON LOKAYUKTA
On Monday, chief secretary S V Ranganath and DG&IGP S T Ramesh called on the Lokayukta. Both expressed regret over the issue and assured the Lokayukta that early action would be taken, and the culprits will not be allowed to escape.
CORPORATOR'S PROFILE
HE COULD BE SUSPENDED
N Chandra (Congress), Ward 62, Ramaswamy Palya
N Chandra was known among his colleagues as a quiet corporator. He was one of the group of 35 Congress corporators who recently undertook a four-day visit to Singapore on a study tour.
His ward, close to Shivaji Nagar, was known for being one the smallest wards geographically, measuring just 0.83 sqkm.
The Congress, which condemned his behaviour, is contemplating his suspension. "If the charges are proved against him, he will be expelled from the party. I was shocked when I heard the news. It is completely against the work of a corporator. Causing trouble to an honest official like U V Singh is disgraceful," opposition party leader in the council M Nagaraj said.