News and pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Jan 3: Public held mass protests by blocking the road in BC Road on Monday, January 2. The protests were organised against the National Highway Authority as they had dug both sides of the road near Polali Dwara for widening and left it half way.

The protests which began at 9.30 AM took an ugly turn at around 10.30 AM when the highway was completely blocked leading to heavy traffic jam.

Bantwal DySP Ravish C R, Circle Inspector Manjayya, SI Nandakumar and other staff rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. The DySP requested the protesters to protest besides the highway as they were staging the protest blocking the highway awaiting the National Highway Authority officials. Taking the advice, the protesters cleared the road, moved the side and shouted slogans.

The protesters shouted slogans against MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai, MESCOM, traffic,  town municipal council and such other departments. While the protest was on, Minister Rai's vehicle passed on the road which was on its way from Mangaluru to B C Road.

The protests lead to shutting down of shops near Kaikamba cross. Local shop owners and auto-rickshaw owners protested for leaving the road half-dug and not repairing it even after ten days.

Meanwhile, the tahsildar who arrived at the place assured of setting the road right within two or three days. Social activist P A Rahim said that they are protesting against the non-fulfillment of promises made earlier by the government. “There is a lack of co-ordination between departments regarding setting right the dug road, and the people are suffering due to it. While the tahsildar points the finger at the municipal council, the council blames traffic SI Chandrashekaraiah. The highway authority which should take action is not even in the picture,” said Kaikamba Riksha driver's association president Yacub. Leaders Shahul Hameed, K H Aboobacker, Machendranath Salian, Suresh Tailor, Azharuddin and leaders of various parties were present.

Highway gets blocked

While the protests were in progress at one end, the highway got blocked till B C Road, Narayanaguru circle. The congestion lasted for two hours putting commuters into trouble. Police struggled hard to clear the traffic.

Anguish against traffic SI

The protesters said that traffic SI is the cause of the chaos. “The SI ordered the digging of the road once the Deputy Commissioner ordered. He did it without thinking, which has now created a ditch. He now blames the other departments,” lamented the protesters.