Mangalore: Students led by ABVP gherao J R Lobo's residence, detained

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, Sep 7: Stepping up their demands to improve the condition of the hostel for backward communities and minorities (BCM), hundreds of ABVP activists and college students on Friday September 6 late evening gheraoed MLA J R Lobo's residence and were soon detained by the police.

However, J R Lobo was not at home at the time. The protestors decided to wait by the gate of his residence and declared that they would not leave until they meet the MLA. The police on getting information rushed to the spot to disperse the crowd, but when they refused to listen, they were detained and taken to Kadri police station.

The police station witnessed chaotic scenes after Congress workers arrived and demanded that police file FIR against all the persons involved in the protest. Arguments also arose between the Congress workers and ABVP activists, and police took the latter inside the police station to calm down the situation. However, chaos continued with Congress workers arguing with the police.

The Congress workers said that if the students or ABVP had genuine concerns, they should have given a formal appeal or memorandum at the MLA's office. "It is not right to go to an MLA's house," they said.

Police sources said that J R Lobo instructed them to release the students among the protestors, and restrain those who were not students but were present for their vested interests. Many of the students belonged to PU and degree levels.

The police later began questioning the protestors.

Meanwhile, J R Lobo himself came to the spot. Visibly angered by the incident, he said that the protestors had any problem they should have approached him at his office in the right manner. "This is an issue related to education. Do not politicize it," he told the protestors, and promised that a meeting will be held on Saturday September 7 to discuss the issue.

When Lobo asked them to specify which BCM hostel they were complaiing about, the protestors named the one at Suratkal. Lobo replied that they should be approaching the MLA of Mangalore North as Suratkal area does not fall under his limits.

The Congress workers, hinting at vested interest behind the incident, told mediapersons, "For 20 years Yogish Bhat (of BJP) was the MLA here, and Krishna Palemar (also of BJP) too was there. Now MP Nalin Kumar Kateel is there, so why did the protestors come only to J R Lobo's residence?"

BJP leaders Monappa Bhandary, Shrikar Prabhu and others also arrived at the spot. Congress leaders and members like Vijaykumar Shetty, Denis D'Silva and Stany Alvares and many youth leaders were present. Finally, members of the both the parties dispersed. The students among the protestors would be released, police sources said.

A case has been registered in Kadri police station.