NITK toll gate issue: Several detained after angry protestors try to siege toll booths

Surathkal: The police detained several agitators after the protest tried to siege the highway tollgate at Surathkal on Tuesday.

The police also resorted to lathi-charge after a clash broke out between them and the protesters. A protester named Abdul was injured during the lathi charge.

City police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said that about 130 persons have been detained when they tried to damage the toll gate property.

Meanwhile, the activists have warned that protests will continue on October 19 as well if the toll collection is not stopped immediately. Congress youth leader Mithun Rai expressed his anguish by climbing on the toll booth during the protest.

Ivan D’Souza, Vinay Sorake, Muneer Katipalla and Y. Raghavendra Rao who participated in the agitation were among those taken into custody by the police.

Earlier report:

A large number of protesters gathered near the NITK toll gate near Surathkal on Tuesday, October 18 to take part in the protest called by Surathkal Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samiti and like-minded organizations.

Security has been beefed up at the toll gate. So far vehicular movement has been not affected by the protest.

Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Shashi Kumar also informed that traffic disruption during the protest will not be allowed.

Irked by the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) failure to declare a certain date regarding the clearance of the toll gate at NITK Surathkal on NH66, Surathkal Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samiti had announced that the protest will commence as planned on October 18.