Bantwal, 05 April 2016: A cyclist was fatally injured when he was hit by a sand-laden truck at Pudottu in Kolnad village, near here on Monday April 4.
The critically injured cyclist has been identified as local resident 70-year-old Bhaskar Purusha, a trumpeter by profession. Bhaskar was cycling towards Salettoor, near here on Monday morning, when the marauding truck hit his bicycle.
Locals stage protest
The local people staged road blockade alleging that illegally sand mining and marauding trucks are posing threat to people venturing on Salettoor – Manchi Road. The protesters were hell-bent that they would not back-off till they get assurances from mining and revenue officers. At this backdrop, the mining officer Rajendra arrived at the spot.
The protesters demanded mining department to set up a permanent checkpost at Salettoor to curb illegal sand transport to Kerala via Salettoor – Manchi, despite sand is not available for local needs. Meanwhile, the protest was called off only after the assurances by the mining officer in this regard.
Bantwal circle inspector Belliappa, Vittal sub-inspector Prakash Devadiga provided the security at the spot.
Kolnad gram panchayat president Subaschandra Shetty, members Vishwanat Shetty, Jagdish and Pavitra Poonja, TP member Narayan Shetty, locals Yogish Alva, Ramesh Shetty Karaje, Devdas Shetty Paltaje, Ashraf Salettoor and others were present.