Pics: Hariprasad Belman
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)
Updated
Karkala, Dec 20: The protestors, who are protesting against the installation of tollgate in Belman, took a rally from Belman town to Belman Church and then to Nandalike. At this point, the police personnel detained the protestors.
Earlier Report
Karkala: Bandh call against Belman tollgate gets wholehearted response
The bandh call given by the committee fighting against the installation of a tollgate at Belman for Karkala - Padubidri state highway today has received tremendous response.
Buses are off the roads, and shops, establishments, banks, educational institutions etc have voluntarily downed their shutters.
Inaugurating the protest Kemar Swamiji said, "I am with the people of Belman. I will not rethink about my participation in this protest. It is the fight against injustice. We are not afraid of cases filed against us or any other legal actions. We are fighting against exploitation and one side rule over the villagers who live around Karkala - Padubidri highway. Toll at Belman Toll plaza is equal to looting the people. I am with the people irrespective of their religion and political affinity. "
Addressing the protesters Suhas Hegde said, "We are ready to sacrifice anything but we will not allow collecting toll at Belman Toll plaza. Thousands of villagers too have decided not pay. We obey the rules of law of our country and we are protesting seeking justice. It is our request to the authorities to consider our demand and close the toll plaza immediately.
Thousands of locals took part in the protest.
The committee had asked people and institutions having business establishments or other concerns on the state highway between Padubidri and Karkala to down their shutters today. The committee is hell bent against the toll plaza construction at Belman, saying that most of the poeple using this road are poor and toll charges would be a burden for them.
Preliminary meeting
Relating to the above bandh, preliminary meeting was held at Belman bus stand on Wednesday. Suhas Hegde Nandalike, president of action committee against the tollgate, said that the committee expects that all the shops and establishments on the said state highway would remain voluntarily closed on Thursday, and all the vehicles including buses, trucks, cars and auto rickshaws would remain off the road. He also said that over 10,000 people are likely to participate in the protest meeting.
Hegde expressed the determination not to allow tollgate construction on this road. He said that a protest processions would be taken out at 9 am, followed by mega protest meeting at the bus stand.
Committee office bearers Shashidhar Shetty, Sarvajna Tantry, and others were present in the press meet.