Angry locals stage protest against police department, authorities over road accidents in Mangaluru
Demand immediate removal of signal at Kankanady Junction, blame cops for death of woman on Thursday
Mangaluru: Locals in Mangaluru on Thursday staged a protest against the police department and local administration over their failure in administering and regulating traffic at key junctions in the city. The protest was staged after a 55-year-old woman died on the spot after being mowed down by a private bus at Bendoorwell Junction here.
Angry protesters threatened to block the Bendorwell Junction and Kankanady Junction if their demands of suspending the signal at Kankanady Junction, pasting Zebra crossing, and laying speed breakers were not met immediately.
The protesters, led by a few youngsters asserted that the signal at Kankanady Junction was unscientifically installed recently after the new police commissioner took charge. They also added that several road diversions and traffic regulations were undertaken unscientifically leading to rise in the number of accidents and deaths.
The death of the woman today was the second of its kind in less than a week. Earlier an 11-year-old kid died on the spot after falling off a two-wheeler after it was hit by a private bus.
“In order to escape the red light on Kankanady Junction, the private bus driver cruise through the Bendoorwell Junction without bothering about the pedestrians and two-wheelers here,” the protesters claimed, adding that the signal at Kankanady Junction should be immediately removed and the traffic should be managed manually by policemen.
"Nobody has come now to listen to our demands, not even the MLA. The same people will come begging for votes during the election and then they will not care about the grievances of the people. We are only demanding our safety, for how long we should be walking on the road with fear of being mowed down by a private bus in the city?" one of the protesters questioned.
"Only the police department and authorities are to be blamed for these deaths. We have seen six people dying at this junction alone in the last six months," they further added.
The protesters also demanded that the Police Commissioner visit the spot and look at their grievances. The top cop however supplemented his subordinates who reached the spot and tried to pacify the crowd.
Former MLA Moideen Bawa and others also reached the spot and extended support to the protesters and their demands. Bawa made several attempts to pacify the crowd, but they persisted with their demand to meet Police Commissioner at the spot. Bawa urged Police Commissioner to reach the spot but the latter expressed his inability to visit the spot due to his other engagements.
Bawa then arranged a meeting with Police Commissioner and returned to the spot. He added that the Police Commissioner and other top officials would come to the spot later at 6 pm as they were busy on election duty.
ACP Mahesh Kumar and other police officials were also present at the protesting site. Kumar noted all the demands of the protesters and assured them that their demands would be considered and appropriate measures will be undertaken. He however added that removing the signal from Kankanady Junction was not an appropriate solution to the problem.
The protesters also expressed their discontent with Police Commissioner failing to reach out to the people when they demand and asserted that being a public servant the top cop should have immediately reached the spot and paid heed to the grievances of the public.
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Karnataka School Edu Dept prohibits children from being made to dance to obscene songs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka School Education Department has issued a circular strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes.
It stated that such dances would negatively impact students' mental health and moral values. It will create indiscipline and harm the sanctity of education.
"All the Deputy Directors (Administration) of the state's School Education Department have been asked to take strict measures to prevent children or students from dancing to obscene songs in all government, aided and unaided schools in the state," the office of the commissioner of the School Education Department said in a recent circular.
"If it is found that children are being made to dance to obscene songs, appropriate action will be taken against the headmaster or management of such school," it added.
The department also listed certain measures in this regard, which include: strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes; selecting songs that are inspiring, positive, instilling national pride in children and reflecting the greatness, dignity, values, culture, and morality of the state.
Stating that the school headmaster and management are responsible for selecting songs and dances for cultural programmes, it said, they should also ensure that students wear decent clothes in dance or cultural programmes.
