Karwar: People under the aegis of Janashakthi Vedike staged a rail roko protest at Harwad railway station in Ankola taluk on Monday demanding stoppages for MEMU (electric multiple unit) trains in three railway stations in Uttara Kannada.

They symbolically blocked the Madgaon-Mangaluru MEMU train. Padma Shri Tulsi Gowda and Sukri Bommugouda also supported the protest.

Addressing the protesters, Janashakthi Vedike President Madhav Nayak said that steps must be taken to provide stoppages for MEMU train at Harwad, Mirjan in Kumta taluk and Chitrapur in Bhatkal taluk.

He also demanded that the platform at Harwad railway station should be raised and developed.

Uttara Kannada District Railway Seva Samithi President Rajeev Gaonkar said that the district has significantly contributed to the implementation of the Konkon railway. But the people here have not been benefitted from the project. Measures must be taken to provide necessary stoppages so that the people of the district are benefitted.

The protesters submitted a memorandum stating their demands to Railway Regional Manager B B Nikam and assured that their demand for stoppages at three stations will be fulfilled within ten days.

Former MLA Satish Sail, leaders George Fernandes, Maruti Naik Avarsa and others were present.