Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (JS)

Bantwal, Apr 5: People in Salethur protested in big numbers after a lorry, carrying sand, hit a cycle injuring the cyclist seriously.

Bhaskar Jogi (62) is the person injured.

The accident took place at Pudhottu on B C Road-Salethur road. The lorry carrying sand was heading towards Kerala. It hit the cyclist injuring him seriously. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital at Deralakatte.

The people who started protesting on the road demanded that the deputy commissioner (DC) and other officials from mines department should visit the site. It was discovered that sand was being transported in the lorry illegally without any valid papers.

Vittal police station officer Prakash Devadiga rushed to the accident spot with police personnel to pacify the protestors. But the protestors were not ready for any negotiations. Later Bantwal circle inspector K Belliappa arrived. He phoned the mines officials and asked them to visit the site. Congress and BJP leaders too joined the protest. Bajrang Dal and other Hindu organisations also became part of the protest.

After three hours of wait, Nagendarppa, a mines official, reached the spot. He promised that, with immediate effect, a check post will be established at Salethur manned jointly by revenue, police and forest departments. If any illegal movements of sand are found, then action will be taken against the check post staff.

The lorry which was responsible for the accident has been seized and a case stands registered against the driver,

It is believed that minimum 50 lorries carry sand to Kerala from this area.