Mangalore : Hundreds of auto rickshaw drivers from rural areas under the aegis of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike staged a massive protest near the DC’s office demanding to grant licence for the ferry passengers from rural areas to the city.

Addressing the protestors, Yogish Shetty Jeppu founder president of Tulunada Rakshana Vedike said that the places such as Thokkottu, Ullal, Deralakatte, Someshwar, Kotekar, Kuthar, Konaje are within the limits of 10-km distance, hence the administration must grant permission to rural auto drivers to take the passengers from these rural areas to the city.

Shetty said that since the rural area people are highly dependent on city for the purpose of colleges, district centers, schools and hospitals, this demand which has been put forth in past 8 years must be sorted out immediately.

Tulunada Rakshana Vedike working president Krishna Shetty Pilar said that if any rural rickshaws drivers take any passengers to the hospitals in the city, then there are booked by police. Even though the association is fighting from long time, their demands have not been fulfilled. The association will hold violent protest, if the demand is not been considered soon he added.

Krishna Gatti Someshwara, Hamid Hassan Madoor, Farook Kinya, Salaluddin Ayub and others were present.

More than 400 auto drivers from rural areas participated in the rally taken from Thokkottu to State Bank.