Meeting, lathicharge mark withdrawal of lorry blockade stir

Byndoor, Karnataka, Sep 5 (UNI) The five-day-old protest at Ottinene in Udupi district against the movement of Manganese ore laden-lorries on NH 17 was withdrawn today amidst hectic developments, including lathicharge by the police.

The protest, demanding re-installation of the weigh bridge allegedly removed by the Mine Exporters Forum, took an ugly turn when a few lorry drivers bulldozed their way through protestors blocking the road.

Talking to reporters, Udupi BJP MLA K Raghupathy Bhat, who spearheaded the agitation, said four lorry drivers forcibly tried to move their vehicles on the protesters while Medical Education and Udupi district in charge Minister V S Acharya was holding a meeting with the district Deputy Commissioner, the police and lorry owners association.

When one of the lorries brushed Mr Bhat, the police resorted to mild lathicharge to bring the situation under control, injuring three persons. They also seized the four lorries at Maravanthe in Kundapura taluk and Kota police range in Udupi taluk.

Meanwhile, emerging out of the meeting, Dr Acharya announced that the protestors agreed to withdraw the agitation as all machineries of the removed weigh bridge had been brought back for re-installation by the Forum. If the mine owners did not re-install the weigh bridge by September 12, the agitation would be resumed.

After the withdrawal of the stir, over 500 stranded lorries, carrying Manganese ore from Bellary to New Mangalore Port, were allowed to enter the district.

Additional police force had been deployed at Ottinene to maintain law and order. The situation was now peaceful.

UNI MA GD-RG SKB VA RS1715