Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore (MB) - Pics Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Jun 28: Students affiliated to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested against the fee rise in professional courses, by blocking the Mahatma Gandhi Road at the Canara College and Jain Road junction around 11-45 am on Wednesday.

Although the protesters were not large in number, the police handled the situation very discreetly and with restraint. The traffic was blocked for about 15 minutes. Since the Mahatma Gandhi Road is the main approach and exit road for the KSRTC bus stand for southward and eastward upcountry and long-distance buses, the passengers were highly inconvenienced when there were long lines from the all directions.

To add to the hardships, there was already the problem of repairs to the concrete road between the Canara College junction to the PVS circle. Vehicles from Lal Bagh direction are being diverted to Jail Road up to Karangalpady.

However, the students were persuaded to clear off and by 12 noon, the traffic was brought to normalcy. However, it took some time for the congestion to melt away.

Many citizens were heard complaining as to what purpose the inconvenience to the public at large would serve and in what way the fees problem could be solved by such protests. Instead, the ministers' and politicians' vehicles should be stopped and prevented from moving until a concrete assurance is obtained.