Kundapur: Traffic on the busy National Highway-66 near Kota in Udupi district came to a brief halt on Tuesday morning after a 25-year-old man allegedly set up a table, television and sound system in the middle of the highway, creating an unusual spectacle that left motorists and local residents stunned.
The youth, identified as Ranjith Somayaji (25), a resident near Bellada Ganapathi Temple in Kotathattu, was later taken into custody by the Kota police after he allegedly obstructed traffic and attempted to attack police personnel during the operation to remove the obstruction.
The incident, which occurred around 10 am, caused temporary disruption to vehicular movement before police restored normal traffic.
Table, television and sound system placed on highway
According to police, Ranjith allegedly placed a table in the middle of the highway and installed a television along with a loudspeaker system.
He then began playing music, obstructing the free movement of vehicles on the busy stretch of NH-66.
The unusual scene attracted the attention of passing motorists and local residents, many of whom stopped to witness what was happening. Concerned over the disruption to traffic, members of the public alerted the police.
Police rush to clear obstruction
Acting on the information, a team from the Kota Police Station rushed to the spot to remove the obstruction and restore traffic movement.
During the operation, Ranjith allegedly resisted the police action and is said to have brandished a knife in an attempt to attack the personnel.
Police managed to overpower him without any reported injuries and took him into custody before shifting him to the police station for questioning.
Traffic on the highway resumed after the table, television and sound equipment were removed from the carriageway.
Mental health angle under inquiry
During the preliminary inquiry, police suspected that the youth could be suffering from a mental health condition based on his behaviour during the incident.
However, officials said there are currently no official medical records to indicate that he has undergone psychiatric treatment.
In the absence of such documentation, the police have registered a case against him and initiated further investigation into the incident.
Authorities said the exact circumstances that led to the unusual act are being examined.
Viral videos draw widespread attention
Videos of the incident, recorded by onlookers, quickly surfaced on social media and have since gone viral.
The footage showing the television, sound system and table placed in the middle of the national highway has attracted widespread attention and sparked discussions about the youth’s erratic behaviour.
Many social media users expressed surprise at the unusual incident, while others highlighted the need to understand the circumstances behind the youth’s actions.
Investigation continues
Police are continuing their investigation to determine the motive behind the incident and to ascertain whether any medical evaluation is required as part of the inquiry.
Officials have also reiterated that obstructing traffic on a national highway poses a serious risk to public safety and that appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with the findings of the investigation.
The swift intervention by the Kota police ensured that the obstruction was cleared quickly and normal traffic movement on NH-66 was restored without any major incident.