Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Feb 18: "The behaviour of toll gate personnel of Talapady on the local residents is crossing all limits. If this rowdyism is not stopped we may have to teach them lesson through Guerrilla warfare," said Vinay Naik, former member of zilla panchayat.

Vinay Naik was speaking at the protest meet that was held on Thursday February 18 in front of Talapady toll plaza, organized by Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike and apolitical Talapady locals, against making FASTag mandatory rule, double charges for those who do not possess FASTag stickers and urging the buses between Talapady and Mangaluru to travel till Melina Talapady and demanding the introduction of government buses.

Naik further said, "Because of the plot hatched by some people toll gate is established at Talapady. Some locals have joined hands with toll gate personnel from Andhra Pradesh and doing injustice to the local residents. Local toll gate personnel are playing dual game with the toll gate officials and locals. If the behaviour of toll gate personnel crosses limits we will beat them and teach them lesson.

"The toll gate personnel are from distant Andhra Pradesh. They will not understand the psyche of local people of Talapady. That too this organizations is already blacklisted. They have not constructed service road as per rule. Local toll gate personnel are also not cooperating with the local residents. It is not right to divide residents living within two km radius from the toll gate and collecting money. There is no need for tollgate personnel to divide us. The system that was followed earlier should continue in future too. No need of doing goondaism with local residents and trying to insult us. There is no one here who cannot pay toll. But our fight is for justice to locals.

"Kateel, BTC and other private buses are plying between Melina Talapady to Mangaluru. If they can manage why cannot other buses go to Melina Talapady? They should not stop buses near toll plaza where there is no bus stand for people to wait for buses. This is not correct. Officials have to question this with bus personnel. We will speak with them. Police have to protect the public and not the toll gate personnel,” he said.

Addressing the protesters, taluk panchayat member Surekha Chandrahas said, "Toll gate is constructed on the land that was sacrificed by the locals. But now the locals have to pay toll to pass through it. We should have fought in the beginning itself. Toll officials never attend taluk panchayat meetings, even if invited."

Verbal arguments ensued between the personnel of toll gate and protesters. Protesters objected collection of double charge from a car driver for not having FASTag sticker. In the midst of the protest, the protesters also forced a private city bus to go till Melina Talapady. A toll gate personnel called Shivu objected for that which resulted in further verbal arguments.

Siddique Talapady, president of Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike said, "We are giving a deadline which is till the evening of Friday February 19. The issue should be resolved within that time. The earlier system should continue for locals. Right now we have opted Gandhi path for protest. We also know how to protest in the style of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Do not force us to take up that path. Correct the lacunas. If not, we will hold fierce protest."

Taluk panchayat president Siddique Kolangere, Talapady gram panchayat president Vaibhav Shetty Talapady, Vinu Shetty Talapady, Flavy D'Souza, Vani Poojary, Nazeema and Gopal Tacchani were present.