Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 21: In a fresh development regarding the Suratkal toll gate issue, the police on Monday February 21 took social worker Asif Apatbandhava into custody.
Asif had been protesting at the Suratkal toll gate for the past almost two weeks demanding the toll gate's closure. He had claimed the toll plaza was illegal as it was located within 15 km from Hejamady toll plaza and was within city corporation limits in violation of official guidelines.
He had employed unique forms of protest, including immersing himself in muddy water and posing as a dead body to draw the attention of the public and the authorities, and several people had supported him.
File Photo
Asif had demanded that the deputy commissioner visit him and assure that suitable action would be taken in the matter.
As he refused to give up his protest or budge from the toll plaza, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) filed a complaint against him, based on which he was taken into custody on Monday.
Police commissioner N Shashi Kumar confirmed the Asif's detention and said that he had been taken for further interrogation.
"Even when I went for rounds at 11:30 pm there were 100 people gathered. In this present situation, if any untoward incident happens ultimately people will blame the police," the commissioner said.