Siteless people stage stir seeking sites at Mudigere

Siteless people staged a protest and picketed taluk office on Monday, demanding sites. When the protesters blocked the road, the police arrested over 250 protesters. The protest was staged under the aegis of CPM and All India Youth Federation.

Addressing the protesters, CPM State Joint Secretary Sathi Sundaresh said that they have been protesting continously since three years demanding sites for the siteless. But the ruling class and elected representatives have not responded to the plea. During every protest, officers ask for three months time, but they never meet the deadline, he alleged.

“Over 6,000 individuals in the taluk do not own a house, and are dependent on rented house or in coffee estate out houses. Eventhough the problem is severe, none of the elected representatives have come forward to solve the problem. Despite the High Court’s direction to issue sites to siteless, the officers have committed dereliction of duty,” he warned.

During the protest, several rounds of talks were held with tahsildar, taluk panchayat executive officer and range forest officer.

When the officials sought time to solve the issue, protesters denied and resorted to block the road. As the situation turned serious, police arrested 250 protesters. The remaining protesters came to the police station and were hellbent that they would not return until the issue is solved. The protesters continued to stay in the police station till late in the evening.