Police notices halt civic group’s walk to raise ‘awareness’ on impact of short tunnel
A civic group's awareness walk regarding a proposed tunnel project in Bengaluru was cancelled after police issued notices citing High Court restrictions on protests. The group maintains the event was a peaceful walk, while police treated it as a prohibited protest.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the ongoing tension between civic activism, public space usage, and the enforcement of judicial guidelines regarding protests in urban areas.
Controversy has erupted over an alleged police restriction on an awareness walk titled “Protect our lakes and green spaces”, organised by a civic group and scheduled to be held at Hebbal Lake on Sunday morning. A portion of the lake land is expected to be acquired for the proposed short tunnel project between Hebbal and the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University.
While the group publicised the exercise as an awareness walk, the police allegedly sent notices stating that the civic forum was holding a protest walk from Dairy Science College to Hebbal Lake via Bhoopasandra Main Road. The notices said that, according to High Court directions, protests can be held only at Freedom Park and that any form of protest outside the said venue would attract action.
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