Knife found in bag of woman staffer at Vidhana Soudha, claims it was for cutting fruits for sick mom

BENGALURU: A small knife was found in the bag of a woman staffer at Vidhana Soudha on Monday during baggage screening. The police seized the fruit knife after the staffer produced her ID proof and gave an explanation for carrying it in her bag.

The staffer was identified as Anita, a ‘D’ group outsourced employee in the Kannada Development Authority. In an undertaking to the Vidhana Soudha police inspector, Anita stated that her mother is sick and undergoing treatment in the ICU at St Martha’s Hospital. She used to visit the hospital every day to deliver food and fruits before coming to workplace. On Monday, however, she forgot to keep the knife at the hospital in a hurry and put it in her bag, she stated.

The staffer also produced the hospital documents and the visitor pass.

Security arrangements have been heightened at the entrance of the Vidhana Soudha following the incident in which a 72-year-old man entered the Assembly hall while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was presenting the budget last Friday and occupied the seat of a JD(S) MLA.

Employees and visitors have been banned from  carrying various objects into the Vidhana Soudha ever since the incident. After the security lapse, marshals regularly check the bags and ID proofs of staff and visitors before allowing them to inside the Vidhana Soudha. Only pass holders are allowed. The secretariat staff have kept introduced a register for journalists as well to enter the gallery.