Sakaleshpura, August 24: Protect Shiradi Ghat Action Committee president Sanjith Shetty smelt the rat in the decision of closing traffic movement on Shiradi Ghats making small incidents as big one.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Shetty said that there were few landslides and cracks on the Shiradi Ghats due to heavy rains and the mud covered on the road could be removed in a few hours and cracks could be closed. But colluding with the contractors, the elected representatives and the officials have planned to loot money in the name of repair works. There was no need to close the vehicular movement on the road for such a small work. They demanded Rs 6 crore for repairing the road and said that they would require five months to do it and thus, conspired to loot the money, he alleged.

In order to loot the public money, some officials and elected representatives joined hands together. So, the Hassan and Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioners should verify the spots and see to it that there should not be any misuse of money. If the repair work was not completed by September first week and open for traffic movement, the Committee would stage protest against this decision, he warned.

Railway Passengers Welfare Forum president Narayana Alva said that Shiradi road was the only route to link Bengaluru and Mangaluru. But it was closed with ulterior motive. The train service which was started because of the forums continuous efforts was also closed due to landslide. As a result, people were finding it difficult to take people who required medical treatment to Mangaluru. In fact, vehicular movement on Charmadi ghat was also critical. When this was the situation, the authorities should not mislead the people and it was condemnable. Traffic movement should start immediately. Otherwise, they would force them to protest, he warned.

Malnad Welfare Forum convener Kishore Shiradi, Yathish Kumar Gundya, Kumar and others were present.

 

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Mumbai, Jul 25 (PTI): Police have opposed the bail plea of the Bangladeshi national arrested for allegedly stabbing Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan with a knife and injuring him at his home here in January this year, telling a Mumbai court there was "strong evidence" against the accused.

Citing a Forensic Science Laboratory report, police reiterated before the sessions court their earlier claim knife fragments that got lodged near the actor's spine during the attack as well as a part found at the crime spot have matched with the weapon recovered from the accused, Shariful Islam.

These three pieces were part of the same weapon (knife) used to attack the filmstar, the police said in a written response to the accused's plea submitted in the court on Thursday (July 24).

Khan was repeatedly stabbed with a knife by an intruder inside his 12th floor apartment in upscale Bandra on January 16 during a robbery attempt.

The 54-year-old actor underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital to remove a piece of knife that got lodged near his spine during the attack. He was discharged from the private hospital after five days.

Shariful Islam, a Bangladeshi national, was arrested two days later for allegedly stabbing Khan.

The police, in their response, highlighted that the accused is a Bangladeshi citizen residing illegally in India.

If granted bail, there was a possibility that he may flee India and not appear before the court during the trial. The crime committed by the accused is of a "very serious nature, and strong evidence" is available against him, they argued.

In his bail plea, filed through advocate Vipul Dushing, the accused asserted he was innocent and had no prior criminal record.

Investigation into the case has practically concluded with only the filing of a chargesheet pending, the accused contended while seeking bail.

The alleged attacker has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to house trespass, robbery and dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous injury.