Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (EP)

Mumbai, May 21: Nearly 30 bus passengers including pregnant women, women and children who began their journey to Mangaluru from Mira Road on Monday evening and halted at Nippani, Karnataka-Maharashtra border for want of passes were finally released after the intervention of elite people.

As several corona positive cases were detected earlier among people travelling to Karnataka from Gujarat and Maharashtra, the Karnataka government had taken a strong stand against these travellers.

Mumbai’s young entrepreneur, Rithesh D Poojary who worked behind the curtain, Mangaluru MP and state BJP president, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLAs, Umanath Kotian (Moodbidri) and K Raghupati Bhat (Udupi) contacted chief minister B S Yediyurappa through CM’s secretary, Ravi Kumar and others explaining the way passengers were cheated by the bus agents. Minister Srinivas Poojary who took the matter seriously rushed to the spot so that the passengers may be allowed to cross the check post. The minister reportedly provided food to the passengers through his friends in Nippani and provided moral support to them.

The passengers were stranded for nearly two and a half days. North Mumbai BJP vice president, Yermal Harish Shetty, young entrepreneur of Mumbai, Mahesh Shetty Tellar, MLA, V Sunil Kumar, Lalaji Mendon, Udupi DC, G Jagadeesha and district officials persuaded police officials to relent. “Meanwhile Kannadiga Patrakartara Sangha Maharashtra president, Rons Bantwal, Vijaya Karnataka Mangaluru edition editor, U K Kumaranath, Vijaya Karnataka Belagavi edition editor, Mahantesh Patil were in constant touch with officials in Nippani ensuring security and facilities making sure that the passengers reach their respective hometowns,” said the passengers.

The passengers who reached their homes are relieved. They have thanked Geetanjali Suvarna Katpadi, Nilesh Poojary and those who helped the passengers directly or indirectly.