Bantwal: Brahmarakootlu chaos - Police register cases against six persons
Mounesh Vishwakarma
Pics: Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)
Updated
Bantwal, Apr 26: Following the act of vandalism at Brahmarakootlu toll plaza on Saturday April 26 by public, Bantwal town police registered cases against six people including Mohammed Sharif, member of town municipal council for creating trouble.
Twenty-five people including Mohammed Sharif, Shakir, Pallam Adam, Azeez, Sameer and Salam are said to have come in three auto rickshaws, two cars and more than ten bikes and allegedly vandalized the booths, causing an estimated loss of Rs 10 lac.
It is said that trouble erupted after Mohammed Sharif got into an altercation with the toll gate staff for collecting toll from a vehicle of an acquaintance behind him. It is said that he acted indecently with the staff and used abusive language against them. Meanwhile, some people who arrived from Shanti Angadi area in auto rickshaws and other vehicles reportedly broke the glass panes of the toll booth with wooden sticks.
They also smashed computers, CCTV cameras, chairs and other items in the toll plaza, and allegedly also assaulted toll plaza manager Shiva, staff Ranjith, Nizam, Satyaraj and Vijay who were on duty. They also assaulted another staff, identified as Belgaum resident Satyeri Jadav, snatched his mobile phone and gold chain and fled, sources said.
Shivakumar, the manager said that the culprits robbed Rs one lac from the cash drawer and fled.
The incident has been recorded in CCTV, and though the equipment was damaged, the images are intact, sources said.
In a similar incident that had occurred on April 15 night, Hassainar and his group had allegedly assaulted the toll gate staff. Their pictures were also recorded in the CCTV. Though a police case was registered, the police have not made any arrests so far.
District police head Dr Sharanappa visited the spot and inspected. Bantwal DySP Rashmi Paradi who also visited the spot viewed the incident in the CCTV and directed the police officials to take suitable action. Additional security from DCIB and KSRP has been assigned at the place.
Eyewitnesses said that the booth was vandalized after circle inspector Rajashekar Maistry who came there went away without taking any action, saying that he had some urgent work. DySP Rashmi Paradi has been informed about it, sources said.
DySP got annoyed by the verbal insults by the agitators when she visited the place. The protesters also acted inappropriately with media persons who came to the spot to report the incident.
Toll collection suspended
Meanwhile, addressing a press meet later in the day, Harsha Melanta, son of toll plaza contractor G Gopalkrishna Melanta, said that though union minister for road transport Oscar Fernandes had written a letter requesting more police security at the toll plaza, no action has been taken so far, and until the security is tightened, toll charges would not be collected.
He further said that a group of about 30 persons assaulted six toll plaza personnel and caused damage estimated at Rs 10 lac. He alleged that though police had been informed, they failed to provide adequate security.
"This is the third incident of attack by miscreants at the toll gate in just four months. Though we have submitted a CD of CCTV images of previous attacks to the police, no action has been taken so far," he said.
Initial Report
Bantwal: Protestors vandalize toll booths at Brahmarakootlu
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
Bantwal, Apr 26: The controversy over Brahmarakootlu toll gate took a more serious turn on Saturday April 26 as protestors barged into the toll booths and vandalized the place.
Ever since the new toll get was inaugurated here, people have been holding protests time and again alleging the personnel at the booth of collecting exorbitant toll charges and behaving rudely with commuters.
On Friday April 25, Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti along with local Congress leaders had held a massive protest demanding the shifting of the toll gate and immediate stop on collection of toll charges.
On Saturday, Bajrang Dal activists first held a protest at the toll gate blocking the road for sometime, and after they returned, another group came to the spot and vandalized the booths. The people who vandalized the booths were not of Bajrang Dal but general public, eyewitnesses said.
However, it is said that Bajrang Dal activists reportedly used foul language against the lady DySP Rashmi Paradi when she tried to control the situation.
Speaking to daijiworld, ZP member Thumbay Shetty said that Congress workers were not involved in the attack, and that the protest sparked off after a toll booth staff allegedly snatched the key from a car driver at the booth.
A tense atmosphere prevailed at the toll plaza and commuters were faced with much inconvenience. Police including SP Dr Sharanappa rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
However, as the equipment at the tollbooths were completely damaged, collection of charges has been temporarily suspended and vehicles are allowed to pass without paying the toll.
More details awaited.