Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Updated
Udupi, Feb 13: As the morning progressed, a large number of protestors gathered near Padibidri gram panchayat office preparing to march towards Hejamady decrying the collection of toll charges on NH-66 and arrest of leaders at Hejamady during an earlier protest.
Though the district-wide bandh began on a lukewarm note on Monday February 13, it gathered momentum later on with buses being stopped in various parts. Some of the shops that had opened for business downed their shutters.
Over 750 protestors gathered at Padubidri panchayat, in violation of Sec 144. The police who were in as many numbers tried to stall the protest, and a heated argument erupted between the two sides.
The police arrested about 15 people inlcuding Gulam Mohammed, Keshav Salian and Ansar Ahmed, sparking further protests. They were bundled into a KSRTC bus, but the protestors, who included taluk, gram and zilla panchayat members, gheraoed the bus and refused to allow it to move. They even laid down on the road so as to obstruct the way, but the police stood their ground.
Thereafter, ASP Vishnuwardhan arrived at the spot and bowing to pressure, agreed to release the protestors.
Meanwhile, it is alleged that SI Sunitha resorted to mild lathi charge on some women, not part of the protest, who were standing about 500 metres from the spot of the protest. As news spread, the agitators grew furious and demanded her suspension. SI Sunitha then clarified that she had not hit the women, but had only chased them away for violating the Sec 144.
Finally, tahsildar Maheshchandra and other officials arrived at the spot and pacified the protestors. He assured that till February 25, toll charges will not be collected for KA 20 vehicles moving through Hejamady tollgate, and for KA 19 vehicles within a radius of 5 km, provided identity cards are produced at the tollgate. On February 25, a meeting would be held with the officials concerned and further course of action would be decided, he said.
After the tahsildar's assurance, the protestors began to disperse, and by afternoon, the situation seemed to return to normalcy slowly.
However, shops in the vicinity of Padubidri closed fearing violence. Vehicles too stopped plying through this area. Buses too stayed off the highway.
Earlier Report
Mixed response to bandh in Udupi, buses stay off roads in Kundapur
Pics: Silvester D'Souza / Pareekshith Shet
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi/Kundapur
Updated
Udupi/Kundapur, Feb 13: The call for bandh on Monday February 13 against the collection of toll charges and the subsequent arrest of protestors at Hejamady received mixed response with most of the buses and auto rickshaws conducting business as usual in Udupi.
However, in Sasthan, shops remained closed and in Kundapur, some of the schools declared holiday. Private buses in Kundapur stayed off the roads, but some shops chose to do business as usual. Bus passengers were stranded.
Kundapur
Udupi
Buses plying on Udupi-Kundapur and Mangaluru-Kundapur routes supported the bandh. Sources said that after 10 am, buses to Barkur will be stopped.
Most of the shops and business establishments also opened shutters in Udupi. Only a few were closed. Brahmavar and Padubidri were most affected, sources said. In Brahmavar, city buses too came to a halt later on.
Sources said that goods vehicle are being stopped at Koteshwar.
As public transport, especially most of the city buses and KSRTC buses functioned as usual in Udupi, the bandh did not affect normal life of the people. Schools and colleges also remain open. However, students who came to bus stops were seemingly confused and some went back home.
Tight security has been put in place to prevent untoward incidents. Section 144 has been imposed in Udupi taluk, and along the national highway from Tekkatte to Shiroor.
A protest is expected to be held later in the morning. As the morning progressed, reports poured in that buses were blocked and locals are gathering to protest.