Bengaluru: A major controversy has erupted in Bengaluru following allegations of fake data collection, misuse of caste census (Collecting data of Scheduled Caste Community) stickers, and a violent assault during the BBMP’s ongoing caste census drive. Tensions rose after numerous residents across the city found BBMP caste census stickers pasted on their doors, despite no official visits or data collection.
The issue escalated on Wednesday when a resident, Nandish, confronted a BBMP worker who had allegedly pasted a sticker on his home without any interaction or questioning. In response, the worker reportedly physically assaulted the house owner — a moment captured on CCTV, where the official can be seen kicking the resident. The video has since gone viral, triggering public outrage.
Residents have claimed that while some BBMP workers took detailed information, in several areas, stickers were arbitrarily placed on doors without verification. Local police are also under scrutiny for allegedly attempting to downplay the assault and advising an informal settlement despite clear video proof.
The BBMP has issued a partial clarification, stating that stickers were only meant for households believed to not belong to the SC/ST categories and that full data was collected only from those within the SC/ST or OBC classifications. A helpline number and QR code have been provided for residents to clarify or correct their details.
This year’s caste census is reportedly being carried out by BBMP workers instead of school teachers, as was the case during the earlier survey. The shift has led to procedural lapses, with many field staff allegedly untrained to handle such sensitive work, leading to confusion and confrontations.
The political fallout has also begun. The JD(S) and BJP have condemned the survey’s mismanagement, sharing videos and alleging a lack of proper data collection. BJP leader BY Vijayendra has questioned the necessity of the state-led caste census, arguing that the central government is already planning a nationwide exercise.
Opposition leaders have warned that such irregularities could jeopardize the credibility of the entire caste census process, with the misuse of stickers and fake survey methods likely to resurface during the final data compilation and policy recommendations.
The BBMP is yet to issue a comprehensive response to the assault incident and broader allegations of misconduct.
