Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)

Udupi, Feb 10: The members of Karnataka Karmika Vedike ended their fast-unto-death protest on Friday February 10 after a written assurance from the tahsildar and officials of the mines and geology department that their demands would be met. The hunger strike against the ban on sand mining in the district went on for three days.

On the third day of the protest on Friday, two protestors, Sudhakar Poojary and Arif took ill. Distressed by this, the other protestors sat on dharna in the middle of the road near Clock Tower and blocked traffic.

The police who intervened threatened to arrest the protestors, after which the latter retreated towards the temporary shelter they had set up, however, they refused to enter the shelter and continued to protest.

Tahsildar Maheshchandra and officials from the mines and geology department then met the protestors and tried to pacify them. The protestors demanded that the administration should stop the practice of intercepting lorries transporting sand and quarry stones and imposing heavy fines on them.

The officials assured that their demands would be looked into, but the protestors were not convinced. They demanded a written assurance which the officials refused to give. Arguments then ensued between the two parties.

The protestors then explained their problems such as impact on daily wage workers, unemployment due to the ban, etc.

Finally, bowing under pressure, the officials gave a written assurance to address the issues put forth by the protestors, after which the agitation was called off. Tahsildar Maheshchandra offered a glass of juice to the protestors to break their fast.

Vedike president Ravi Shetty however told reporters that if the administration refuses to meet their demands, the protestors would next gherao the mines and geology department office.