Violence at Bangalore Turf Club

Syces at the Bangalore Turf Club (BTC) on Wednesday refused to sign an MoU over hike in wages and this resulted in violence at the BTC. The incident has dampened chances of the centre hosting the Turf Invitation Cup, scheduled to be held in March first week.

The BTC had drafted an MoU on Tuesday and the syces’ union had agreed to it initially. But a couple of union leaders wanted to renegotiate some of the conditions and a meeting was held on Wednesday to settle the issue. Talks failed and this led to a heated exchange of words and resulted in violence. Arun Kumar, Gopi  Naidu and Chetan, members of the Karnataka Racehorse

Owners’ Association (KROA), were assaulted in the melee.
BTC officials called the police, who brought the situation under control.

Dominic, a KROA member, said: “The violence was caused when a few members went down to the stables to check on their horses. On seeing the owners and trainers walk into the stables, the syces charged at them with crowbars and knives. A few managed to escape, but those who were caught were beaten up. Three members who were attacked were shifted to Mallige Hospital and are being treated there.”

DCP (central) Dr Ramesh said: “The incident took place at 7.45pm and we have rounded up 30 people.” This incident has cast a shadow over the BTC hosting the Turf Invitation Cup as trainers and horse-owners said they are in no mood to participate in such dangerous conditions and an ever-problematic centre. BTC secretary Nirmal Prasad was unavailable for comments about the fate of the Invitation Cup.