Haladi's supporters take to streets

5 ZP members in Kundapur to resign; Cong members too stage stir in Haladi

The public and supporters of MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty, who was denied cabinet berth in the newly formed ministry, observed a total bandh in Kundapur and Baindur, in protest against insult meted out to the MLA, on Friday.

The bandh was peaceful and no untoward incidents have been reported.

The bandh received good response in the region. While the business establishments downed the shutters, schools and colleges remained closed. The buses, both private and KSRTC, remained off the road across the taluk. In fact, the bandh had affected the patients and their relatives who had visited the hospitals from outside the taluk.

Haladi’s supporters who gathered in front of Shastri Circle in large number shouted slogans and carried out a procession in the main streets of Kundapur. The procession was led by Kundapur BJP committee president B Kishore Kumar, TMC President K Mohandas Shenoy, Taluk Panchayat standing committee president Manju Billava and others.

The supporters also burnt tyres in the middle of the road to express their anguish, at Shasthri Circle. They also burnt the effigies of the Sangha Parivar leaders and the party flag. They alleged that the conspiracy by the Mangalore division Sangh Parivar leaders was the reason, behind Haladi not getting a berth. 

As the heat of the protest increased, few protesters sat on National Highway 66 and blocked the road. When the police objected to the way resorted by the protesters, it led to verbal duel between the police and the protesters. The protesters had blocked the road for more than two hours.

When the queue of the vehicles increased on either side of the road, the protesters allowed the movement of vehicles. 

In the meantime, Baindur MLA K Lakshminarayana said that he was with Haladi and appealed the protesters not to disrupt the movement of vehicles and not to take law into hands. Even Haladi who called his supproters from Bangalore, urged them to maintain law and order during the protest.

SP’s visit

As the protest intensified in the region, Superintendent of Police Dr Bhoralingaiah visited the spot. Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said that the situation is under control. Additional police personnel have been deployed. Action will be initiated against those who take law into hand, he said. In the meantime, five zilla panchayat members from Kundapur Assembly constituency have decided to tender resignation in protest against the denial of cabinet berth to Haladi.

At Haladi

All the business establishments had downed the shutters to support the bandh call. The villagers and supporters staged protest at Goliyangadi, Albadi, Ardi, Amparu, Shankaranarayana, Siddapura, Hosangadi, Ajri, Amasebailu and Hengavalli.

The protesters were not only from the BJP but also Haladi’s supporters in Congress and Jaya Karnataka. Even women took out a procession in Haladi.

The movement of vehicles was disrupted on Virajpet-Baindoor highway from Amparupete to Mandimoorakai. Owing to the road block, all the vehicles bound to Hebri from Amasebailu were seen standing in a queue. There was verbal fight between two BJP groups, at Albadi Moorukai.

The movement of essential commodities like vegetables were also affected. The bandh was total in Amasebailu. The Grama Sabha of Amasebailu Gram Panchayat which was scheduled to be held on Friday was postponed.