From Our Special Correspondent

Madikeri, Jan 28: The human rights and anti-corruption organizations held protests in the city urging the government and senior officials in the district to take foolproof measures to make Coorg a corruption-free district.

The leaders of the organization who marched from Field Marshal K M Karyappa Circle to the office of the deputy commissioner shouted slogans against corrupt officials. They expressed dissatisfaction that corruption has exceeded beyond limits and officials act rudely to the applicants. “There is violation of human rights in the corrupt system,” they said.

C Narayana speaking in front of the office of the district administration said that the officials are using go slow tactics without disposing off the applications of ordinary people. “No action is being taken for complaints of malpractice”, he alleged. “The protests will be intensified if the files pending in different offices are not disposed of within the next ten days,” he warned.

Women’s wing state secretary H Fathima said that ordinary people are facing problems as some officials have indulged in corruption. “Applications are kept pending in Tahsildar office and the corporation. The corporation harasses without giving license to roadside vendors and petty shopkeepers. Officials act with high-handedness with ordinary people. Applications submitted under RTI also do not receive reply on time,” he said.

Protesters submitted a memorandum to the district administration. “There is allegation of illegally occupying Bandi road in Kolageri grama and criminal action should be taken against the guilty. Road and drain are occupied by influential people in Kadangamaruru grama of Virajpet taluk and suitable action should be taken against them. Land belonging to Dalits in Ramamandira is illegally occupied and it should be set right. A former Tahsildar of Madikeri taluk has built a large house in illegally occupied land and suitable enquiry should be held. The district administration should make alternative arrangement for disposal of trash from local schools. Illegal buildings are coming up in corporation limits. The corporation should take suitable action,” urged the protesters.

Madikeri taluk president Jinnunanayya, Vice president Munir, Somavarpet Taluk president P Madhu, Virajpet taluk president Shareen Muthanna, organizing secretary Ganesh Kumar, Soofi and others participated in the protests.