India, July 22 -- Street vendors allegedly attacked Bengaluru municipal officers and employees who had gone to clear encroachments on a footpath in Shivaji Nagar on Tuesday.

On the directions of Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority have been carrying out a drive to remove encroachments from pavements.

On Tuesday, when a team of GBA officials reached Shivaji Nagar, some people allegedly turned violent, dragged Assistant Executive Engineer Gowtham and a few other officers onto the road, and assaulted them.

They allegedly used pepper spray on another official named Ruchitha.

"Five suspected attackers have already been caught by the police. The main instigator, Basavaraj Pudukote,...