Kasargod: Youth killed in accident, angry locals vandalize bus depot
Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod
Kasargod, Mar 17: A youngster was killed on the spot and another injured when a government bus rammed into their bike at Karandakad here on Sunday March 16.
Soon after the incident, a group of people, angered by the youngster's death, barged into a bus depot and damaged furniture and buses.
Rajneesh (24), a resident of Nellikunje was riding along with Sujith (24) when a Kerala government bus plying from Kasargod to Mangalore dashed into their bike at Karandakad. Rajneesh died on the spot, while Sujith sustained injuries and was rushed to a hospital in Mangalore.
As soon as news of the accident spread, an angry mob rushed to the bus depot and smashed the furniture, broke window panes and pelted stones, damaging five buses, including private ones, that had been parked there.
As clashes erupted at the depot, police rushed to the spot and resorted to lathi charge to bring the situation under control.
The protestors then blocked the road outside the bus depot demanding immediate arrest of the bus driver who had reportedly caused the accident. They again pelted stones, and once again, the police lathi-charged them.
The police also took five of the protestors into custody for causing chaos, which further angered the people. A crowd gathered at the police station and staged a flash protest demanding the police to release the five persons.
Meanwhile, bus employees condemned the act of the protestors and refused to operate the buses. It is learnt that as a mark of protest, buses on Kasargod-Mangalore route would stay off the roads till Tuesday March 18 afternoon.
The bus employees also demanded the arrest of all those protestors who vandalized the depot and caused damage to buses.
Though the situation was brought under control, police security has been tightened to prevent further trouble.
It is learnt that the deceased Rajneesh was in the Gulf and had returned to his hometown just three months ago.
The body was shifted to Kasargod general hospital.
A case has been registered in Kasargod town police station.