Bengaluru: Lokayukta office a sitting duck for attacks

Bengaluru: Wednesday's attack on the Lokayukta is unprecedented, but the office of the Lokayukta in the last three to four years had nearly collapsed even in terms of security. In June 2016, IAS officer Kapil Mohan, who was facing a disproportionate assets case, had reportedly strewn some crystal powder outside the office of SP (rural) and IGP, Lokayukta.

The crystal powder also reportedly contained glass pieces and the inference was that it was allegedly an act of sorcery. The officers had complained about the security breach to the then registrar, Lokayukta, but no steps were taken to correct the lapses, which later resulted in another major security lapse. In November 2016, some miscreants had set ablaze the main wooden doors of the Lokayukta. The police had to douse the fires. Sources told this newspaper that the police were reportedly restrained from tightening security inside the Lokayukta because the judges felt that the Lokayukta should be easily accessible to people from the State, who travel long distance to get their grievances against corrupt government officers addressed. “It is important to have a security officer, who can periodically conduct the security audit and place the request for appropriate police protection and security. The Lokayukta is provided with a gunman, one head constable and four constables for his personal security. One or two constables are invariably on leave,” said an officer on condition of anonymity.