Thread by @rachelchitra

Guys please help. I'm having an issue with garbage disposal. For nearly a year, I've lived in Tippasandra and have always missed the morning disposal collection because of my odd timings and late hours. @BengaluruPolice @ChristinMP_TOI

Since there are no more any public garbage bins in Indira Nagar - I've always had to throw my rubbish bags at the open bin outside Hotel Empire,Indira Nagar or the open bin at Addigas, near my office, MG Road.

Transporting rubbish for disposal a few kilometres away was never a problem as i had a bike at my disposal. Three weeks ago my bike got stolen, but I'd still dispose garbage at my work location when i caught an auto.

Today, i had indra with me and 5 bags - our luggage for leaving tonight, Indra's lunch bag and daycare change of clothes and my office laptop bag.

Because of no public garbage bins, local vendors leave plastic bottles at a collection point very close to BJP MLA Raghu's house and BBMP guys pick it up the next day.

So there was the usual stash of collectibles - a bag of old shoes from the local cobbler, the pani puri stash from our local pani puri guy, plastic bottles from our other local pettishop guy - all neatly kept in gunny bags - not strewn around.

I added my paper bag with five plastic bottles at the collection point and the paper wrap from morning breakfast - as i didnt want it getting smelly when i was away. I left it at the collection point - when a guy tried to block me saying you pick it immediately.

I explained to him that i have enough and more bags and the collection will happen the next day morning - and isnt it the correct point? He said - "no you pick it up you bitch. Its people like you who are a disgrace."

I was taken aback with the "bitch" and i told him politely I'll pay the BBMP fine and he can report me - i don't have the time and i dont have choices. He tried to stop me - physically barring me and putting his hands on me.

I kept moving away and walked off. Within 5 minutes he collected a crowd - we were walking slowly hampered by the luggage and didnt realise there was a cleanliness Nazi around.

Within a few minutes a woman ran from behind, caught hold of my bag and made me stop. She slapped my face and told me to go pick up my bag. I was horriified - even more so when this mob of 8 activists surrounded me and she started telling them i had assaulted her.

It was very humiliating and totally ridiculous. Indra was howling by this time as they were all screaming at me.

I very calmly again showed them identification - showed them my driving license that i reside here and its ridiculous. They kept chanting "pick up, pick up" - i saw no reason why i should be doing something against my will even if I'm in the wrong.

By this time- some local coconut sellers and shop owners came to my aid - because Indra was crying so hard thoroughly frightened. Seeing them argue in my favour - that it is the collection point - whats the problem? "

Hers is not the only bag - coconut husk bags are also there (we use the same spot)." "She has a child. Let her go! Can't you see how the child's crying?"

I started walking away as they were stumped and quiet forawhile - as they tried to come up with an answer. I'd walked 50 feet when the woman ran up behind -- pulled and pulled at my laptop bag till it tore - and tried to get at me.

This was my office laptop - Times of India property - and i secured the laptop -- even as she tore and made mincemeat of my bag.

In her fury at being argued down by local sellers - she hit my arm and shoulders and every inch she could get off me -- scratched me with her claws -- my first ever catfight - only i wasnt fighting just trying to keep Indra out of it.

Indra in trying to defend my face from getting scratched by the woman - also got hurt.

Please advice me guys. 1) Is there a local common garbage bin in Tippasandra market/Indira Nagar 80 feet road I can use till i get a new bike?

2) Who is this mad woman on Tippasandra market? - the locals say she's a well known activist and local bully

3) Will the Jeevan Bheema Nagar police station accept a complaint of assault and battery on Thursday morning - two days later - rather than today? @BengaluruPolice
I'm still shocked and trying hard to calm Indra, who is hysterical.

I have a feeling I maybe completely in the wrong - and quite willing to pay a fine at the local BBMP office even if the spot i placed my bag is a well known collection point for local conservancy workers.

But this physical assault - because of a local group - is shocking. Its my very first physical assault by members of the general public -- and the fear i felt for Indra's safety was intense.

Its been day 4. I request @BengaluruPolice @BlrCityPolice to please view the CCTV footage or atleast talk to locals. On enquiry I've found out that my assaulters B Chatteejee & Debjani Chatterjee are BJP workers. And were intending to take a video for @SwatchBharat4u

@AnuPrabhakar
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@BJP4India @BJPKarITCell @BJPKarnataka i am requesting help from the police, BJP & Swatch Bharat Mission. Sir cleanliness is a priority even for me as i live in the neighbourhood. But i & my child shouldnt have been physically assaulted, beaten n scratched.

My assaulters B Chatteejee & Debjani Chatterjee are BJP workers. And their intention was to take a video for the Swatch Bharat campaign. And hence they had been waiting at the local collection point to make an example of someone. It was my bad luck I walked into them.

I wondered why private citizens would take so much offense to a brown paper bag with 5 plastic bottles - which I left 200 metres away from their house. I also wondered why private citizens would have the courage to get so violent with no provocation from my end.

Now I realise it was just a stunt to get some publicity. And they have enough clout to probably get away with it. I'm requesting support & help - because my 6-year-old got injured & traumatised in their drama

The update is an FIR has been registered against me and them. Police have not started investigation. And I also suddenly realised the humour in all of this. @BlrCityPolice @BengaluruPolice

So on Wednesday evening I was narrating the incident to Bangalore City Police Commissioner Suneel Kumar. "So what did my guys (cops) do?"

Me: "Sir, they refused to believe me. See, when I left the brown cover with 5 plastic bottles at the collection point there were 5 other bags. By the time we returned the local rag picker had made his rounds - and collected all the bags except one.

The near-empty collection point by the time i returned with the police constable

My brown paper cover - with sheets & straw spoon - 5 plastic bottles missing

Me to commissioner: "And they'd also taken away my 5 plastic bottles. So the police constable saw only a brown cover with a sheet & straw spoon. They refused to believe such a big fight had broken out over this."

Chucking, the Commissioner asked: "Someone had flicked your plastic bottles in the interim?"

Me: "Yes sir. So your cops found it hilarious and unbelievable."

(And as he laughed, the ridiculousness of the situation dawned on me and I joined in. But he has promised to help. So fingers crossed. I really am appalled by what they did -given Indra was involved)

A copy of my FIR. They've also filed an FIR against me

Day 4 at the police station. Everyday we visit the police station and wait for hours. And nothing happens

Planning to approach @CMofKarnataka . Was unable to meet my neighbour BJP MLA Raghu. My fear is the CCTV will run out of storage & erase previous data if not checked within a week @BengaluruPolice @BlrCityPolice

The Jeevan Bheema Nagar police station cat -- who has been giving me much needed company as i wait these last 3 hours