Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SS)

Mangaluru, Oct 16: Police have cracked down on protesters of the Surathkal toll gate and have slapped notices forcibly on more than 100 of them by conducting a search and barging into homes in a midnight operation.

The police have ordered the protesters to furnish a bond for Rs 2 lacs along with a government bail and also to report themselves at the Police Commissioner's office on Monday.

The Surathkal Toll Gate Virodhi Samithi had called to lay siege to the toll plaza on October 18 protesting against the collection of tolls. The members are demanding removal of the toll plaza.

The district administration had requested the Samithi to withdraw the agitation. But, the protesters said despite making promises for the last six years regarding vacating the toll plaza, protests have not yielded the desired results. It is in this light that protesters said that they will lay siege to the Surathkal toll gate and only withdraw after the plaza is vacated.

All political parties barring the BJP have come in support of the protesters.

The Mangaluru Police have also slapped notices on women protesters including Prathibha Kulayi in the late night operation.

Meanwhile, DYFI state president Muneer Katipalla has in a Facebook post said they weren't intimidated by the use of police force and added that there was no going back on the planned protest.