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Protest against bad roads in Bangalore turns violent

Staff Reporter

30 vehicles damaged; police lathicharge protesters

BANGALORE: About 30 vehicles were damaged and several people, including 10 policemen, were injured when a group, which was protesting against bad roads, threw stones on Kankapura Road on Friday.

The police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed the crowd. Several protesters were reportedly injured in the lathicharge.

The police said that around 9 a.m. nearly 500 people gathered on Kanakapura Road, off Yelechenahalli and blocked the road, urging the authorities concerned to repair bad roads.

According to police, the protesters, led by Janata Dal (Secular) leader Balaji Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Balakrishna, blocked for three hours the busy Kankapura Road, which was recently declared a national highway. Following the protest, traffic came to halt in the surrounding areas.

Even as the protesters were arguing with the policemen, some miscreants hurled stones and boulders at the stranded vehicles and policemen.

Nearly 30 vehicles, mainly Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and private buses, were damaged in the incident. At least 10 policemen suffered injuries. The police resorted to lathicharge and dispersed the mob. Shops and business establishments in the area remained closed till afternoon.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Alok Kumar told presspersons that all those who were protesting against bad roads were not local people. "Some youths had come there in private buses," he said. But he was not forthcoming when asked whether the agitation was "sponsored" by someone. He said 35 persons have been arrested on charges of rioting. The Kumaraswamy Layout police have registered a case.

Official sources said the stretch of Kanakpura Road, which was been badly damaged, falls under the jurisdiction of the National Highways Authority of India and thus the local civic agencies have not taken up the repair.

According to residents of the area, besides Kanakapura Road, several others roads have been badly damaged because of the recent rains.

The Bommanahalli City Municipal Council, under which Yelechenahalli and surrounding areas come, has not taken up road repair work, the public alleged.

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