Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)
Bantwal, May 2: Residents of Farangipete on Thursday May 2 staged a strong protest against the railway department alleging that the Farangipete railway level crossing between Kumpanamajalu and Meremajalu had been closed without prior notice and without making alternative arrangements.
The residents had protested last week too after they came to know about the closure. The railway department officials had then pacified the protesters over the phone, assuring them that the railway crossing would be opened for traffic after completing the work in three days. Thus assured, the residents had called off the protest.
However, on Wednesday May 1, the railway level crossing was permanently closed, which angered the locals.
The protesters said that more than five thousand people would face hardship due to the railway department's decision. "The underpass road constructed several years ago is unscientific as water accumulates on it for at least six months a year. Women and children cannot walk on the road. As it is not suitable for traffic, an alternative road should be constructed before closing the level crossing," they urged.
K P Naidu, senior railway section engineer visited the spot and explained that the crossing was not safe for vehicles as well as for people, and asked them to give a written request for making alternative arrangement. As the protesters did not budge, the railway department removed and set aside the stones laid across the road by them.
Gram panchayat president Ramlan, former zilla panchayat member Ummar Farook, former taluk panchayat member Iqbal, grama panchayat member Hashir Perimar, Laxman Kumpanamajalu, Girish Shetty Kumpanamajalu, Santhosh Gambhir, Dhanraj Shetty, Jagadeep, Sandesh Kumpanamajalu, Vikram Barke, Suresh Shetty Barke, Sathish Shetty Kumpanamajalu, Sunder Shetty Pallatadame, grama panchayat member Riaz Kumpanamajalu, Zahir Kumpanamajalu, Hemalatha Kumpanamajalu, F A Khader, Iqbal sujir, Kumpanamajalu Arafa masjid president Bukhari, Amith D’ Mello, Salim Kumpanamajalu, Suchitra, Aisabi, Sukesh Shetty, Anand Alva, Iqbal Sujir and Ibrahim Kumpanamajalu were present.
Bantwal ASP Saidul Adavath, CI Sharan Gowda, SI Prasanna and railway police provided security during protests.