Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 10: An accident involving a truck and a motor bike which occurred near Kotekar Beeri on national highway 66 in the outskirts of the city took away the life of the motor bike rider. The pillion rider, who suffered grievous injuries in the accident, is being treated in a hospital in the city. The accident occurred late night on Tuesday September 8.

Muhammed Zakaria (23), residing near Talapady check post died in this accident, while Shiyab (22), who hails from Talapady K C Nagar, was admitted into a hospital here with grave injuries.

After his catering job for the day was finished, Muhammed Zakaria was returning home in his motor bike late night on Tuesday with his friend, Shiyab, on the pillion, when the bike hit the stationary truck near the commercial tax office near Beeri. Zakaria, who was earlier employed for a year in Dubai and had returned to his native place, and was undertaking sundry jobs here, died instantly. It is said that he was preparing to leave for the Gulf on September 18. He is survived by parents, five brothers, and a sister.

Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike activists thereafter staged a protest in front of the commercial tax office, holding official apathy responsible for causing a number of accidents there. The protesters said that a large number of truck drivers park their vehicles on the highway and visit the check post for verification of documents, thus causing undue problems for vehicles moving on the highway, and resulting in accidents. They noted that even after several protests were held in the past for the same reason, no steps had been taken by the officials to improve the situation. Yogeesh Shetty Jeppu, president of the central committee of the Vedike, held the commercial tax department squarely responsible for the deaths and injuries caused in accidents at this spot.

Talapady village president of the central committee of the Vedike, Hasinar K C Road, Someshwara unit president, Ahmed Peribail, Kotekar unit president, Ravi Shetty, Hameed Hassan Madoor, and others were present. The officials of the commercial tax department visited the protesters, held discussions with Ullal police and leaders of the Vedike. They promised to take adequate safety measures on the highway. Thereafter the protest was called off.

A case about the accident was registered in Ullal police station.