Mixed response to Cauvery bandh; Bengaluru, Mysuru hit
09 Sep 2016
The State-wide bandh called on Friday to protest against the Supreme Court order to release Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu saw a mixed response across the Karnataka, with the capital Bengaluru and major city Mysuru coming to a standstill but life almost normal elsewhere.
Public transport was paralysed in the two major cities, but residents of Mangaluru were going about their daily lives normally. Mandya district witnesses protests. But in Belagavi district, bus services were operating as usual.
On Thursday, chief minister Siddaramaiah took to Twitter and appealed for peace. ''We should not destroy our own property to protest the injustice meted out to us. Let the bandh proceed peacefully,'' he said.
During a review of security arrangements with state home minister G Parameshwara and the top brass of the State police, Siddaramaiah said 10 companies of Central forces, two each from the neighbouring Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and one from Maharashtra, had been summoned to manage the law and order situation in addition to the State police which is on red alert.
In Bengaluru, from Town Hall junction to Kengeri junction on Mysuru Road, protesters were not allowing vehicles to pass. Every half-kilometre, gatherings of protestors blocked the road.
The bandh has been peaceful in Hosur so far, with no untoward incidents reported. However, the border was totally shut and cordoned off by state police. Around 15 Kannada outfits were protesting at the border since morning.
Farmers tried to storm the KRS Dam site near Mandya. They were prevented by the police. Agitators were lathi-charged. The police personnel also lobbed teargas shells to disperse the crowd.
K S Eshwarappa, leader of the opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, stresses on the need to institute a committee of experts to suggest Cauvery water sharing measures during distress conditions.
Life was going on normally in Bijapur district, despite the bandh call. All business establishments, schools and colleges were open, buses, both government and private, were plying. However, KSRTC DC has asked officials to stop operation of long distance buses after 12 noon.