Mandya: With frequent road accidents taking place in Induvalu Circle on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway resulting in fatalities and serious injuries, the residents of Induvalu village staged protest demonstration against the Police by blocking the Highway yesterday.

Following a road accident between a bike and a car yesterday morning, the villagers staged a rasta roko for about 45 minutes between 11.30 am and 12.25 pm, bringing the traffic on the busy Highway to a halt.

The traffic on the highway was disrupted with vehicles lining up for more than a kilometre on both the sides of the highway.

The villagers, shouting slogans against the Police, expressed anger on the Department for not taking preventive measures near the village.

The protesters, who spoke, said that everyday accidents take place at the Circle resulting in loss of lives or victims suffering serious injuries which has become common and added that thousands of vehicles ply on this Highway with high speed causing problems to school-going children and even elders   to cross the road.

Sometimes people have to stand for more than an hour to cross the road, the protesters said and added that though they had brought this to the notice of the Police Department, no action has been taken till now as the Police have turned a blind eye.

The protesters urged the authorities to install a road hump near the road divider and deploy a Traffic Police to regulate traffic besides demanding higher officials to come to the spot.

The Rural and Traffic Police personnel, who arrived at the spot, managed to convince the protesters who withdrew their stir. They threatened of intensifying the protest if the Police fail to take necessary steps in this regard.

Rider, pillion injured in bike-car collision

Prior to the villagers staging rasta roko, a bike-rider and his pillion were injured, when a car rammed into their bike   near Induvalu Circle.

The injured have been identified as 55-year-old Krishnaiah of Induvalu village and 50-year-old Mahadevu of Karasawadi.

The duo were proceeding on some work from Induvalu village, when a speeding car coming from Mysuru side rammed into the bike injuring both of them.

Both the injured were shifted to the District Hospital. A case has been registered at Rural Police Station in this regard.