Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, May 22: In a development that took place in the town on Thursday May 21, the locals organized a protest, pressurizing the taluk administration to relax restrictions imposed by way of seal down in the area where the government hospital is located in Kasaba village here.

Tahsildar Rashmi S R, town police sub-inspector Avinash, and other personnel visited the spot after coming to know that people had gathered in the seal down area. They tried to assuage the feelings of the protesters on the issue. Municipal councillor Govinda Prabhu, was among the leaders who demanded to lift the seal down order.

The locals pointed out that the town is under seal down since a month and the situation does not seem to improve. The officials explained about their helplessness, duly stating that the seal down would be removed as soon as the government order for the same is received. But the people did not heed to this reasoning.

Thereafter, the officials promised to make maximum efforts to clear the seal down at which the people seemed to have been convinced. After the protesters returned, additional police personnel were deployed there to avoid any unsavoury incidents.

In the evening, people came together again and held protest by squatting on the road on Thursday evening as the restrictions continued. They stuck to the decision to stay there till the restrictions were relaxed. Sub-divisional officer Madan Mohan, visited the spot and promised to clear the seal down by Friday evening.

Former minister B Ramanath Rai, who visited the spot, told media persons that the locals feel that the seal down affected in the town is unscientific. He urged the higher officials to take into consideration this argument, clear the doubts in the minds of the people and take a suitable decision.

MLA Rajesh Naik Ulippadyguthu, said that he had spoken to chief minister B S Yediyurappa, and deputy chief minister (DCM) Dr Ashwath Narayan, on the issue on Thursday morning and that they have promised to take suitable measures. Naik, who is currently in Bengaluru, said that the DCM had spoken to the deputy commissioner, and that the deputy commissioner has promised to take suitable action based on the recommendations of the tahsildar and taluk health officer.