Ullal: Tension prevailed in Talapady area after toll collection began at the toll plaza here on Wednesday morning.Condemning the same Congress leaders backed by Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike, private bus owners, auto drivers among others gathered to oppose the collection of toll. In the melee, 12 people were taken into custody by the police, following which the situation came under control.

The Congress leaders in the past had staged protests twice against the toll plaza for not providing proper service road, denying employment to local youth and also starting collection of toll before completion of the work of toll plaza.

However, when the contractors of the toll gate went ahead with toll collection, raged locals assembled at Talapady and protested against their move.

The protesters made sure that no vehicle paid the toll amount at the toll gate, as mark of protest.

Soon, the protesters and the police got into war of words following which 12 persons including Gadinadu Rakshana leader Siddiq Talapady, Vaibhav Shetty and others were arrested.

Due to the protest, the route experienced heavy traffic block for over half an hour. However, the toll plaza employees continued with the toll collection after the situation came under control.

It has been noticed that city buses that should complete their round from Mangaluru to Talapady have been taking a U-turn right before the toll gate to avoid paying the toll amount. This has been posing great inconvenience to the commuters.