Bengaluru : Benedict Jebakumar was a regular IT guy who became a hero for many after he decided to tackle the nail mafia in his own way. “I came to Bangalore in November 2011 and have been witnessing the repeated scattering of nails on the Outer Ring Road,” he says. At first he didn’t suspect anything. Only when it became a common occurrence that he realised that the nails were found close to tire mending shops.

“This is done by miscreants to make money out of fixing flat tyres caused by their nails at exorbitant rates,” Benedict said in a petition that he started online. Is this menace more prevalent in some routes? “I observe this menace on the ORR stretch between Silk Board and Eco Space. One can spot these nails on the HSR BDA Flyover any day throughout the year.”

After writing to the authorities repeatedly, Benedict started a Facebook page called ‘My Road, My Responsibility’ in 2014 to create awareness about the menace. “Initially, I was just picking up the nails and discarding them. But from July 2014, I have been documenting the nails I collect on a regular basis on my Facebook page and notifying the authorities (Bangalore City Police, Traffic Police and BBMP) the details. I have also created a petition on change.org,” says Benedict.

So, did it reach the right ears? “As far as I know, Bangalore City Police has arrested two miscreants so far. However, the nail menace continues. We need stringent action and solution from all the related authorities, as I pointed out in my petition on change.org.” He posts photos of the nails he collects in a day and shocking videos of roads laden with dozens of nails. Till now he has collected 70 kgs of nails from the road. “Initially I would comb the road to collect nails,now I pick them with the help of magnets,” concludes Benedict.