Two contractors who attacked officer are still absconding

BENGALURU: The failure of the state police in nabbing the two contractors, who attacked a MNREGA scheme technical coordinator with a machete after he refused to clear inflated bills, has angered engineers implementing the Centre's flagship programme. He suffered a deep gash on his right hand.
"Srinivas was attacked on Monday and the culprits are still at large.How can police be so complacent?" asked a colleague of Srinivas. The engineers are plan ning to hold a protest.
Srinivas was attacked on September 12 by Keshava and Manjunath at Thalekere on the Kunigal-Magadi Road. The contractors were angry with him for reducing the bills for recharge pits they had constructed in Kunigal . Srinivas was shifted to a hospital in Bengaluru where doctors are trying to reattach his hand. Rural development and panchayat raj minister HK Patil, who learnt about the attack from TOI, visited him on Thursday and promised police protection. His medical expenses will be met by the government. Patil also urged the home minister G Parameshwara to direct police to arrest the contractors.
However, police have not made any headway so far. Ramanagara district police said: "We have formed three special teams. The accused have switched off their cellphones and have not made any financial transactions. We'll bring them in soon."
Police also denied there was pressure on them from a powerful minister in the Siddaramaiah government to go slow in the case.