The Surthakal police arrested Democratic Youth Federation of India State president Muneer Katipalla and 32 others for obstructing the Mangalore Special Economic Zone authorities from carrying out work on a corridor road in Jokatte on Saturday.
However, they were released following a protest.
The Jokatte Nagarika Horata Samiti have not been allowing any work on the corridor road for the last several months as a mark of protest against the alleged air and water pollution from MRPL’s coke and sulphur recovery units. The samiti led by Mr. Muneer had been demanding closure of the two units.
The samiti members and other residents had stopped movement of heavy vehicles towards the MSEZ area on Friday and carried out demonstrations. On Saturday, MSEZ personnel came with their material to the corridor road to start the work. They were accompanied by a large posse of policemen. Samiti members and residents blocked the way and refused to allow the resumption of work. MSEZ personnel said the work cannot be stopped as there were orders from the court against any obstruction.
The police arrested Mr. Muneer and others and brought them to the police station. “Assistant Commissioner of Police Madan Gaonker told us to give an undertaking that we will not henceforth obstruct road work. None of us agreed,” said Mr. Muneer. The police then registered a case against them.
Around 4 p.m., DYFI activists and residents of Jokatte carried out a demonstration at the Surthakal junction against the action of the police. It was around 5 p.m. Mr. Muneer and other activists were released.
