Naxalites failed in forcing their ideology on villagers, says IGP

January 2, 2012

Mangalore, January 2: Terming the brutal murder of Sadashiva Gowda, a 'desperate act' of naxalites, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) Pratap Reddy clarified that he was not a police informer.

Gowda, a resident of Kabbinale village, and basket weaver by profession, was found murdered near Hebri, in Udupi district, in the forests of the Western Ghats on December 28.

“The police strongly believe that the murder of the villager was a desperate act by the naxalites, who were finding it difficult to force their ideology on local people”, Mr Reddy said in an informal chat with media persons.

Mr Reddy said that the police department is looking at this case purely from the criminal side, where the right of an individual has been violated.

He also said the naxalite issue should be dealt from a holistic perspective. “The scope of police in the Western Range in maintaining law and order and detecting crimes had widened in view of development projects verses environmental issues and development projects verses people. Police would have to identify the 'possible friction points' by various angles for maintaining law and order”, he said.

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Mangaluru–Kasaragod bus fare rolled back after Kerala protests force NHAI to shut Arikkady toll plaza

coastaldigest.com news network

February 5,2026

Mangaluru: The KSRTC Mangaluru division has rolled back the fare hike on buses operating on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route following the suspension of toll collection at the Arikkady toll plaza near Kumbala in Kasaragod district.

The fare revision had been implemented after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began toll collection at the Arikkady plaza on NH-66. As a result, fares for ordinary and Rajahamsa services were increased by ₹7 and ₹10, respectively, raising the bus fare from Mangaluru to Kasaragod from ₹81 to ₹88.

Senior Divisional Controller of KSRTC’s Mangaluru division, Rajesh Shetty, said the fares were reduced after toll collection at the Arikkady plaza was stopped. “The tollgate began operations on January 13, and the toll amount was deducted from the FASTag accounts of KSRTC buses operating on the route. Following an order from the central government to suspend toll collection, KSRTC has also withdrawn the additional fare with immediate effect,” he said.

At present, vehicles travelling on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route pay toll only at the Talapady toll plaza. The toll for light motor vehicles (LMVs) at Talapady is ₹80 for a same-day return, while heavy vehicles, including buses, are charged ₹250. At Arikkady, the toll rates were ₹130 for LMVs (same-day return) and ₹450 for buses.

Protests against Arikkady toll plaza

The Arikkady toll plaza witnessed widespread protests from January 12, the day toll collection commenced. On the second day, an action committee led by Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf launched an indefinite protest at the site. Except for the BJP, leaders and workers of most major political parties participated in the agitation.

On the night of January 14, a large number of protesters gathered at the plaza and vandalised property, following which authorities temporarily suspended toll operations. The BJP later also expressed opposition to the toll plaza and criticised NHAI’s decision.

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