Bhatkal, August 27, 2025 – The Bhatkal unit of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged a protest on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, near Noor Masjid, condemning IRB Infrastructure’s “unscientific” and negligent work on the four-laning of National Highway 66 (NH-66). The demonstrators accused the contractor and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) of failing to install essential safety features like streetlights, pedestrian crossings, barricades, and warning signs, resulting in multiple accidents, including the fatal incident involving Murdeshwar resident Ishwar Naik on August 22, 2025.

SDPI submitted a memorandum to the Bhatkal Tahsildar, addressed to the Assistant Commissioner and copied to senior state officials, including the Governor, demanding immediate action against IRB, an independent probe into safety violations, and stricter oversight of highway projects statewide. SDPI district president Taufiq Beary highlighted the decade-long delay in the NH-66 project, stalled for the past 18 months, and issued a 10-day ultimatum for resuming work and implementing safety measures, threatening escalated protests if ignored.

The protesters initially demanded that the Assistant Commissioner or Tahsildar receive the memorandum at the site, but when officials did not appear, they marched to the Taluka Administration Office. The demonstration saw participation from SDPI leaders, including district secretary Waseem Manegar, district council member Zainuddin, assembly secretary Saqib, and others like Suhail and Abdul Sami.

Following the protest, Bhatkal Tahsildar Nagendr Kolashetty inspected the hazardous stretch near Noor Masjid and assured that repair work would begin soon. Circle Police Inspector Divakar, PSI Naveen, and other officers, supervised by DySP Mahesh, ensured order during the event.