Mangalore, Aug 26: Auto rickshaw drivers’ union affiliated to CITU staged the protest in front of state health minister U T Khadar’s residence on August 26,Tuesday organized a protest in front of state health minister U T Khadar’s residence demanding to grant Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the family of auto driver Mohammed Rifai, who was found murdered at Maripalla recently.
But unfortunately, Khader was in Bangalore on his work. Immediately, learning about the protest, Khader made an arrangement to provide food to the protestors at his house.
Addressing the protestors, CITU leader Vasanth Achary said that most of the time crimes easily targets auto drivers.
Speaking on Rifai’s murder, he said that although Rifai was innocent culprits, killed him at an isolated place. This is not the protest against the Minister but an effort to draw the attention of the government through its representatives to demand justice to his family.
Achary appreciated the effort of police department who has successfully arrested the accused. But government has not responded in any way. He urged the Government to sanction Rs 5 lakh compensation to his family since they lost their chief breadwinner.
Sunil Kumar Bajal said that auto drivers are made easy targets in the communal violence and gang wars. We have elected ministers to power and hence it is his duty respond to the problems of the people and provide the amount of Rs 5 lakh compensation to Rifai’s family. The protestors also collected money to Rifai’s family and submitted a memorandum to Khadar’s PA in this regard.
After the protest, U T Khadar in a letter given through his PA stated that, he had come to know about the protest previous day, but due to an urgent official work in Bangalore he had to leave.
He also stated that he has already met the victim’s family and assured them of taking stringent action against the culprits. Likewise, he has also directed the police department in this regard.
Khader informed that, though there are many means of communication like telephone, mobile phone, e-mail and other the protestors have failed to inform him in advance and this has confused to think about the real motive behind the protest.
He urged the protestors to meet him and discuss about the issue after two days, when he will return back to Mangalore.
