Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sept 10: Slamming the apathy of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and elected representatives, DYFI Dakshina Kannada district president B K Imtiyaz has described the recent death of a woman named Madhavi in a pothole-related accident as a “sponsored murder” by the highway authority.
Speaking at a protest held at Kuloor Junction on Tuesday, Imtiyaz held the National Highway stretch between Nanthoor and Surathkal responsible for the tragedy. “This highway has turned into a death trap. Massive potholes make it completely unfit for travel. Two-wheeler riders are at constant risk and fatal accidents have become a daily occurrence,” he alleged.
“The National Highways Authority and our elected leaders are in deep slumber while people are dying on the roads,” Imtiyaz said, addressing the gathering organised under the banner of the DYFI Dakshina Kannada District Committee.
The protest demanded maximum compensation for Madhavi’s family and immediate legal action against NHAI officials who, the DYFI alleges, failed to maintain the road despite repeated complaints and growing fatalities.
“Madhavi’s death is not just an accident—it’s a murder sanctioned by the negligence of the Highway Authority,” Imtiyaz thundered. “If the potholes are not fixed immediately, we will intensify our agitation across the district.”
He also took sharp aim at Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta, accusing him of turning a blind eye to the crisis. “Instead of addressing the road conditions and saving lives, he has joined hands with the communal political brigade. It's disgraceful,” he said.
Former corporator Dayanand Shetty and Manjula Nayak, president of Samarasya Mangaluru, also spoke during the protest. They expressed solidarity with Madhavi’s family and criticised the authorities for failing to take preventive steps despite repeated warnings and public outrage over the deteriorating condition of national highways in the region.
A strong contingent of women leaders joined the protest, including Meena Tellis, Soumya Panjimogaru, Prameela, Yogita, Madhuri, and Asha Baikampady, who demanded accountability for the increasing number of road accident deaths due to potholes.
Several social activists and citizens lent their support to the protest, including Vincent Kodikal, Kanakadas Kuloor, Musthafa Panjimogaru, Manoj Kulal, Sujith, Sharif Mayil, Anil D’Souza, Tauseef Angaragundi, and Yogesh Jappinamogaru.
Leaders from the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) — including Manoj Vamanjoor, Rizwan Harekal, Tayyub Bengre, Naushad Bengre, Hanif Bengre, Naveen D’Souza, Khalil Panjimogaru, Basheer, B K Masood, Sadiq Mulki, Santosh D’Souza, Likhith Vamanjoor, Musthafa Baikampady, Ajmal Khan, and I Mohammad — also participated in large numbers.
The protesters demanded that NHAI take urgent corrective measures, warning that the deaths caused by potholes will no longer be tolerated. They called for criminal accountability for officials who failed to act, labelling their inaction as direct complicity in deaths like Madhavi’s.