Despite Section 144, residents protest against Toll Collection, arrested
Udupi: Despite section 144 the residents of Sastan along with various associations and auto rickshaw drivers staged a protest against the collecting the toll without fulfilling demands, here on Saturday, February 11.
More than 400 to 500 protesters marched in a procession from Shiva Kripa Auditorium to the Toll plaza. When the protesters reached near Sastan Bus-stand, the police force led by Udupi SP in-charge Vishnuvardhan and team arrested the protesters.
Addressing to mediapersons Rajesh Kaveri said that the Deputy Commissioner is not ready to listen to the grievances of the people. During the meeting held at the DC office of February 4 chaired by the District minister, it was decided to put on hold collecting the toll at Gudmi and Hejamadi.
The minister had ordered the district administration and engineers of the PWD and NH to conduct a joint inspection of NH work.
The minister had also given four days time to submit the report. In between the DC instructed to collect the toll from February 9 midnight. We had demanded the NHAI authorities to exempt locals with KA 20 registration vehicles, but they are not ready to listen to our demands. Today the Deputy Commissioner imposed section 144 so that no protests will be held. The Deputy Commissioner is acting as an agent of the Navayuga company. Our elected MP Shobha Karnadlage has failed to give justice to her constituency. Since day one we are submitting the memorandum to our MP to provide justice but she has not visited our place till date. We will continue our protest until we get justice.
MLC Srinivas Poojary, ZP member Raghavendra Kanchan, committee leader Kishore Kumar, Pratap Shetty, Prashanth Shetty, Alwyn Andrade and others were present.