Mild cane charge used to disperse agitators

Ermal, Karnataka, Nov 17 (UNI) Police resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse a group of violent mob which allegedly resorted to road blockade at Mudurangady, one km away from where Udupi BJP MP Manorama Madhwaraj and about 150 others from the Nagarjuna Ushna Vidyuth Sthavara Virodhi Samiti were arrested by the police, today.

As soon as the news of arrest of the Samiti leaders who were peacefully protesting against the resumed survey and demarcation of land for the proposed coal-based thermal power project spread, a violent mob burnt tyres on the road, forcing the police to resort to lathi charge.

Earlier, the activists were arrested for defying prohibitory orders and staging a dharna at Bandasale, near here. As the large posse of police personnel failed to disperse the agitators, the district administration clamped prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC till November 21 from this noon.

Ms Madhwaraj, condemning the arrest, demanded that similar arrests be made on those conducting survey at the site.

Protesting against the arrest, shops in Padubidre town, Mudurangandi and Wadiker downed shutters. Heavy police bandobust had been made in Padubidre town and Kaup and police personnel have been deployed at all entry points to the spot.

Meanwhile, the Samithi gave a bandh call for tomorrow in Kaup Assembly constituency and for all fishing activity in the district in protest against the arrest. The situation in Padubidre, Kaup, Nandikur and Mudurangady remained tense. However, police said ''the situation was peaceful and under control''.

The arrested, including large number of women, were lodged in Udupi town hall. Later in the day, all the arrested were released.

However, the released persons, including Ms Madhwaraj, declined to come out of the town hall.

In a hurriedly convened press conference in Udupi, Sri Vishvesha Thirtha Swamiji condemned the arrests and said the district administration had failed to keep up its promise that no survey work would be resumed till November 20.

The seer said he would participate in the proposed protest rally on November 20 called by the Samithi. If the Government proceeded with the survey work, he would resort to hunger strike, he added.

The land survey and demarcation work, proposed to be taken up for locating the rehabilitation colony from Bandasale till Admar mutt on November eight last, was postponed till yesterday following protests by the Samiti activists and on the directions of the Chief Minister.

UNI MA GD LS KP2130