Pics: Joshwa D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Feb 25: The residents of Yedapadavu-Moodushedde area on Thursday February 25 clashed with the police while protesting against the closure of the road adjacent to Pilikula Nisargadhama that branches into two lanes.
The road was ordered to be closed by the district administration as per the request of Dr Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama officials.
The work on the closure of the road began under police protection at 7 am with workers depositing mud and constructing a stone wall.
The locals, about a thousands in number, including women, gathered at the spot and tried to stop the work. In the process, the situation turned tense and it is alleged that the police also pushed the women.
The stretch belongs to Pilikula Nisargadhama but is being used by the residents of about a thousand houses since centuries. Even though an alternative road has been provided for the locals, it has meant that they have to travel three more kilometers to reach their houses.
Sports and youth affairs minister Abhaychandra Jain visited the spot and pacified the protesters. He said that he would instruct the DC to stop the work and this stretch would remain open for use of the residents.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Aboobakkar, a resident, said, "This work has been taken up due to political pressure. Six months ago, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had promised that the road would not be closed. But now the district administration and Pilikula Nisargadhama management are trying to close it. An alternative road has been provided but we need to travel three more kilometers to go to our houses. The stones and sand were unloaded at midnight. It is an attempt to close the road even though we have supported all their (Pilikula Nisargadhama) works and programmes. Most of the residents of this place are very poor. Moreover, the road is in poor condition. The police also resorted to lathi charge when we went to stop the work. We will not let them close the road."
Deputy commissioner AB Ibrahim speaking to Daijiworld said, "The roads are being closed to stop any sort of anti-social activities as there is no compound wall to Nisargadhama. Now we have stopped the work as per minister Jain's instructions. But the road needs to be closed."