Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 8: The toll plaza set up at Talapady on Karnataka-Kerala border started functioning since Wednesday February 8 morning. Protesting against the toll collection, local Congress leaders, representatives of Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike, owners of private buses, auto rickshaw drivers and locals, offered stiff resistance to toll collection at the spot. Tension mounted in the area for sometime. After 12 persons were arrested by the police, the situation returned to normalcy.

In the past too, Congress had led protests twice against opening of the toll gate without laying service road and without providing employment to locals. The protesters had also put forth demand to waive toll charges for the locals and to make the plaza functional only after completion of all the works. Navayuga Infrastructure, to which the contract of road work was entrusted, suddenly began to collect toll charges, although these demands were not met.

As the protest against levying of toll charges intensified, the participants forcibly removed the signals which blocked movement of vehicles at the gate and allowed vehicles to ply without paying the charges. At this development, police intervened, after which verbal friction arose between them and the protesters. Traffic at the spot was blocked for half an hour. When the protesters refused to relent and held their ground, Siddique Talapady of Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike, Vaisbhav Shetty, Siddique Kolangere, Ganesh Shetty, Harshad Vorkady and seven others were arrested. Thereafter, the situation at the spot calmed down.

Assistant commissioner of police, Shruti, Konaje station house officer Ashok, and Ullal police sub-inspector, Rajendra, led team of police which tried to bring the situation under control.

Many city buses were seen to be taking about turn near the tollgate instead of reaching the last stop of Talapady to avoid payment of toll charges, which resulted in inconvenience for commuters.

Siddque Talapady accused officials of suppressing the protesters and not siding with justice. He also said that no proper arrangement has been made to streamline traffic between Thokkkottu and Pumpwell, and added that the officials have turned a blind eye to this problem. He said fight against corrupt officials will continue.

The staff at the tollgate continued to collect toll charges thereafter.