Bhatkal: In a major protest rally held today (Wednesday), various unions of laborers, construction workers, civil engineers, architects, and other construction-related officials demanded the immediate restoration of sand supply in Bhatkal.
Approximately 3,000 protesters, representing the Bhatkal Engineers and Architects Association, Bhatkal Construction Workers and Labour Association, Bhatkal Centering Labour Association, Bhatkal Painting Labour Association, Tipper Owners and Agents Association, and Bhatkal Civil Engineers Association, assembled at the Old Bus Stand at 10 a.m. Some BJP members also joined the rally to support the demand for restoring sand supply.
Holding banners and cutouts with the slogan "Restore Sand Supply," protesters marched through the main roads and National Highway, heading toward Shamsuddin Circle and eventually to the Taluka administrative building, Mini Vidhan Saudha. At one point, some protesters briefly sat down on the National Highway, chanting slogans, which momentarily disrupted traffic. However, organizers and police intervened to keep the rally moving, and traffic on the highway was affected for about an hour due to the slow procession.
As the protest reached Mini Vidhan Saudha, the intensity increased. Some protesters insisted that the memorandum should be presented directly to the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner (DC) and opposed handing it over to the Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner (AC). When AC Dr. Naina came out to address the crowd and explained that the DC was unavailable due to a video conference in Karwar, the protesters refused to hand over the memorandum to her. Eventually, the AC returned to her office without receiving the memorandum.
Protesters demanded that the Bhatkal MLA, who also serves as the Uttara Kannada district in-charge minister, personally assure them of a permanent solution to the sand supply issue. They expressed frustration, stating they had previously submitted complaints to the AC and informed the district in-charge minister, but no resolution had been achieved. They voiced concerns that the six-month-long sand supply disruption had halted construction work in Bhatkal, leaving laborers unemployed. The protest saw considerable tension and commotion.
Throughout the rally, protesters at times became unruly, and organizers struggled to maintain control. At one point, a protester announced that they would block the National Highway if the DC or minister did not arrive to accept their memorandum. Organizers, however, persuaded the crowd to remain peaceful, emphasizing that the purpose of the protest was not to create disorder but to push for sand supply restoration.
Finally, after much commotion, the memorandum was submitted to AC Dr. Naina. Leaders from the various organizations ensured that the situation remained under control.
Additional police forces from nearby taluks were deployed to maintain order. The district’s Additional SP, Jagdish M., along with Bhatkal DySP Mahesh, Circle Police Inspector Gopi Krishna, and other police officers, were present on the scene to manage security during the protest.
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