Siddu to strengthen voice against new route

Freedom to protest

Former MLA M K Somashekar told media here on Saturday that 'Siddaramaiah has been apprised of the happenings related to the recent order of the police commissioner prohibiting protest at K R Circle. The vibrant leader of the district is expected to hit streets as a mark of opposition shortly'.

Amid this, the office of the deputy commissioner has sent a missive to Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal requesting the latter to not to give permission for sound systems during the agitations.

It has been reasoned that, the deafening sound with the increasing use of the systems has been disturbing the functioning of the office.

Meanwhile, the police commissioner is also mulling over drawing out an alternate route making some changes in the new protest route.

The new route-starts from Gandhi Square, passing through subway on New Sayyaji Rao Road, Dhanwantri Road and JLB Road to reach the office of the deputy commissioner. The top cop told Deccan Herald that he is thinking over reviewing the route following requisitions in this regard.

However, he stated that the stretch of D Devaraj Urs Road from K R Circle to DC's office has been adding to the traffic woes.

Quoting records, the commissioner said that 763 rallies had been taken out on the particular road in 2010. When compared to passenger car units (PCU) at Gandhi Square, K R Circle has recorded four times more PCU than that circle, making the former most suitable for demonstrations.

When all these developments are happening, the road users haven't raised any objection, and that has surprised the authorities too- whether they are really put into inconvenience whenever the protesters hit K R Circle and surroundings or are they happy with the decision of the police introducing new route?

And, those who have vehemently opposed the decision are the representatives of the organisations, for whom staging a protest has become an integral part of their lives.
M K Somashekar and 22 others belonging to different organisations had been arrested recently for taking a protest on the restricted route, defying the order. They were released on bail the following day.