Sunil Haleangady

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 19: Effort to install tollgate for the national highway near National Institute of Technology (Karnataka - NITK) at Suratkal near here has been going on since sometime. Protests have also been organized now and then against the erection of this tollgate. Suratkal Nagarika Vedike has also been trying its best through legal means and the involvement of people's representatives to stall erection of tollgate here.

Reportedly, a backhoe appeared at Suratkal and began to dig the ground for erecting the tollgate near NITK, duly supported by a bunch of ruffians who arrived in a car, on Tuesday March 17 morning. Some office bearers of Nagarika Vedike, who came to know about the development, arrived at the spot and tried to stop the ongoing work. After initial arguments, the situation hotted up, and the men in the car and the Vedike office bearers were about to come to blows, when policemen arrived on the spot. The men supporting the tollgate work then went away.

It is gathered that these persons have stayed in a hotel near NITK and that they are in constant touch with police officials. In all likelihood, they may try to resume the tollgate work on Thursday with police help.

As per an information, the tollgate contract has been bagged by a party from Dharwad, and the sub-contract has gone to a person belonging to the saffron brigade here. There is also information that a people's representative, who had earlier pledged his support for the anti-tollgate agitation, has since backtracked.