The Hindu : Karnataka / Bellary News : Auto drivers block roads

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 06, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bellary

Auto drivers block roads

Staff Correspondent

BELLARY: Vehicular traffic came to a halt for over two hours here on Thursday morning when autorickshaw drivers blocked roads at all main circles here to register their protest against what they termed "police excesses."

At 7.00 a.m. autorickshaw drivers blocked the roads at Gadagi Chennappa Circle, Mothi Circle and Indira Circle by parking their vehicles on the middle of the road. As a result, movement of traffic, particularly on National Highway 63, was severely affected. People, particularly office goers and employees of various industries, banks and trade establishment, were stranded and had to walk long distances to reach their offices.

An altercation between an autorickshaw driver and a traffic policeman is said to have sparked off the protest. It is said that the Police Sub-Inspector, Nagaraj, abused Sharanappa over a minor accident involving their vehicles. Nagaraj is alleged to have manhandled Sharanappa and seized the vehicle.

As news about the incident spread, enraged autorickshaw drivers blocked all main roads to protest against the police action and demanded an apology from Mr. Nagaraj.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bheemaiah, and other senior officers tried to persuade the drivers to withdraw their dharna.

They also said a meeting will be convened to discuss the matter immediately after the Superintendent of Police, Pankaj Kumar Thakur, who is attending a meeting in Bangalore, returns to Bellary.

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