Hundreds of activists of the Mananchira-Vellimadukunnu Road Action Committee, led by historian M.G.S Narayanan, staged a protest demonstration on the national highway on Monday against the alleged apathy of the State government in widening the 8.4-km stretch on the busy Wayanad Road.
The protesters urged the government to release ₹100 crore promised by it, complete the land acquisition formalities and rehabilitate shopkeepers and employees.
The police removed hundreds of people from different walks of life who participated in the protest by blocking the highway at the Malaparamba Junction in the morning.
Traffic was disrupted for an hour from 10 a.m. Among those detained were Dr. Narayanan, Gandhian Thayat Balan, former Naxalite and social activist Grow Vasu and writer U.A. Kumaran. Dr. P.A. Lalitha inaugurated the protest.
IUML leader M.K. Muneer participated. Protests were also held at Ramanattukara and Pooladikunnu Junctions.
