Mangalore, May 24: Residents of Melakoppala and Athrebailu areas near Kuloor, who gathered at the Phalguni River to oppose the mud dumping by MSEZ authorities, were briefly detained by the police and then released on Thursday.
The MSEZ personnel had been given police protection as per the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, DK, to carry out the pipeline project work along the river. When the villagers saw them continuing their work, they got furious and started opposing the move.
The police then arrested about 75 villagers and took them to Panambur and Surathkal police stations.
Those taken into custody included children and minors as well which prompted Asha Naik, Chairperson, child welfare committee, to visit the Surathkal police station. The villagers were then released by the police.
The villagers had held a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office on Wednesday condemning the inaction of the district administration in preventing the SEZ from carrying on the project. They had even met the Deputy Commissioner in his office complaining that he should not be acting as 'an SEZ agent'.
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