A female doctor in Bengaluru reported repeated vandalism to her car, including punctured tyres, scratches on the body, threats of damage with a stick, and mud smeared on the windshield, all while it was parked lawfully on a public road in a permitted zone. The incidents, which occurred over the years and most recently when she was away from the spot, were allegedly carried out by an elderly retired educated couple living nearby. She shared her ordeal on X under the handle @Geeky_Foodie, questioning societal norms that allow residents to claim public streets as personal property without building dedicated parking spots. The doctor emphasized that the retired couple confronted her, claiming the public road as their own and threatening further damage if she continued parking there legally.
This is not the first time. My other car was targeted too—tyres punctured, scratches, and threats with a stick. Now, mud on my windshield. All for parking legally on a public road!Bengaluru's doctor, Victim of the incident
As a practicing physician, she highlighted the added stress of such incidents, which compound the already demanding nature of her work in healthcare, especially during emergencies when reliable transportation is critical.
In her viral post, the doctor highlighted the broader issue of entitlement in Bengaluru neighborhoods, where homeowners use traffic cones, flower pots, barricades, 'No Parking' signs, and even extend footpaths into personal gardens or sunshades for cars, illegally blocking public spaces. She noted that previous incidents targeted her other car, and she hopes to retrieve video footage from her dash cam to identify the perpetrator. After the latest mud-smearing event, she quickly cleaned the windshield with water and wipers to drive away safely, as she was running late. She also pointed out that such acts of vandalism have been a recurring issue in her residential area, reflecting a growing trend of entitlement among some residents who assume control over public spaces.
She stated, "Why do people think they own public roads? No one builds parking spaces in their homes, but they’ll vandalize cars for parking legally!"
For medical professionals like her, who often work long hours and need quick access to their vehicles for hospital duties, such vandalism not only poses a personal safety risk but also disrupts their ability to serve patients effectively.
The post garnered widespread attention on social media, with users expressing sympathy, concern for her safety, and frustration over the lack of law enforcement against such entitlement. Suggestions included filing a complaint with the traffic police in the relevant jurisdiction, installing CCTV cameras at home with visible signage to deter vandals, and urging authorities to re-educate offenders. One user tagged @BlrCityPolice, requesting action starting in areas like Indira Nagar, while others condemned the behavior of "so-called educated" people who treat public roads and footpaths as private extensions of their homes.
Many users also suggested that she pursue legal action by lodging a formal complaint with the police, citing the need for stricter enforcement to curb such behavior.
An user commented on her X post: "This is outrageous! @BlrCityPolice needs to act. Educated or not, no one has the right to vandalize property over legal parking."
Healthcare workers deserve safe and accessible parking near their residences, with one user suggesting, "Authorities should prioritize designated parking for doctors near hospitals and homes to prevent such harassment."
This incident underscores ongoing debates in Bengaluru about the misuse of public property, with residents often prioritizing extra rooms in homes over parking facilities, leading to conflicts over street parking. Similar complaints have surfaced across the city, including massive traffic issues on roads like the Outer Ring Road, but no official response from authorities has been reported yet in this case.
The issue is particularly prevalent in densely populated areas like HSR Layout and Koramangala, where residents frequently encroach on public spaces for parking or other personal uses, exacerbating tensions in the community. Another user noted, "HSR Layout and Koramangala are the worst for this. People put cones and plants to block roads, as if they own them!"
The public has urged local authorities to work closely with medical associations to tackle these issues, ensuring that doctors can carry out their duties without the threat of property damage or personal harm.
(Rh/Eth/MKB/MSM/SE)