Pro-Kannada activists, students and parents stage protest at the accident spot

Angry parents, students and activists of pro-Kannada organisations staged a protest at Kempapura Junction here on Friday noon, a day after two people died on the spot after being run over by a speeding water tanker.

The main demand of the protesters is a safe pedestrian passageway at the junction.

Businessman Anand and student of Sindhi College Arpita Janardhan were killed in the accident. The body of the student arrived at the Hebbal crematorium at around 2.30 p.m.

The protest by over 700 irate public lead to traffic snarls and vehicular movement was restored at around 1.30 p.m. The protest resulted in traffic jams at the busy junction and spilled over to the nearby roads as well.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) B. Dayananda and Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the angry protestors. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also visited the spot and promised relief to the pedestrians soon.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Dayananda said, “We have already written several times to the various civic agencies, including the National Highways Authority of India, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and Bangalore Development Authority. A skywalk has been proposed at the site for pedestrian safety. We will ensure that some arrangement is made.”