Bantwal – Fed up with what he calls the ongoing indifference of local authorities, Mohammad Naseer — former president and current member of Sajipanadu Grama Panchayat — has begun a solo, indefinite protest demanding immediate attention to neglected civic issues in the village.
Naseer set up his sit-in outside the Panchayat office with nothing but a mat and unwavering resolve. His demands include urgent repair of non-functional streetlights and clearance of clogged drainage systems — issues he says have long been ignored despite repeated appeals.
Speaking to the media from the protest site, Naseer pointed out that he had raised these concerns at the recent Panchayat general meeting. “The state of our village’s streetlights is not just inconvenient, it’s dangerous,” he said, recalling a recent safety incident in Deraaje due to poor lighting. After police intervention, only three lights were fixed, while the rest remain unrepaired.
He warned that the problem worsens during the rainy season, with children walking home in the dark through flooded lanes. “We can’t wait for a tragedy to take action,” he said.
Despite two written representations to the Panchayat, Naseer claims no serious steps have been taken. He has now brought the matter to the attention of the Zilla Panchayat CEO and Taluk Panchayat EO, calling it a symptom of failed governance.
Though he protests alone, his stand has stirred conversations in the village and put pressure on officials to act.