Semi-nude protests against Nagarjuna Power Project

Udupi, Aug 13 (UNI) The members of Nagarjuna Virodhi Horata Samithi (NVHS) today held a '' semi-nude '' demonstration before the Deputy Commissioner Office here protesting against the proposed 1015 MW coal-based thermal power project near Nandikur in the district.

The demonstrators, after submitting a memorandum, removed their shirts and held demonstration against the district administration's failure to take proper action both against the officials of Nagarjuna Power Company Limited (NPCL), who were allegedly forcing the locals to evacuate and Padubidri police who, allegedly were acting as per the whims and fancies of Nagarjuna officials, indulging in filing false cases against the leaders of the Samithi and innocent people for opposing the project.

Samithi President Vijayakumar Hegde during the demonstration even went a step ahead by removing his belt and hitting himself on his semi- nude body.

Meanwhile, some security guards of NPCL alleged to be in drunken state assaulted a person at Bellibettu Saje in Ellur village last evening when the former Karnataka Minister and MP Manorama Madhwaraj and Nandikur Jana Jagruthi Samithi (NJJS) President Laxman Shetty went to the spot to inspect the 'illegal' barbed wire fence erected by the NPCL on the private land.

Mr Shetty alleged that the security guards, after indulging in verbal duel with the owner of the land, assaulted him, causing head injuries. The public apprehended two guards and handed over them to the police, he added.

UNI