Bharat Bandh: Bus stoned, tires burnt, shops closed

Mangaluru: As per the situation prevailing since early morning, the Bharat Bandh call given by Congress party with the support of various parties and organizations today appears to have received good response. Only a handful of vehicles are moving about on the roads in the city and elsewhere.

Tires were burnt at Jyothi Circle and at Kulshekar here, while a private bus was stoned at Balmatta. Some miscreants hurled stones at Shivabhag Restaurant at Kadri. All the shops and establishments have remained closed. Only buses coming into the city from far away destination are seen on the roads.

In Udupi

Though a few shopkeepers tried to keep the shops open, most of the shops are closed in Udupi. At Thenkupete , a vegetable shop belonging to Sridhar Bhat was damaged by some people and a worker there was beaten up. At Car Street a shop was damaged and the items from the shop were thrown out. Police have arrived at the place.

DK DC gives a stern warning

The deputy commissioner of DK district, Sasikanth Senthil, has warned against forcing people to support or take part in the bandh call. The warning in connection with the bandh call given to protest against increase in petrol and diesel prices.

In a press release dated September 9th, the DC has referred to excerpts from a Supreme Court verdict as per which those who call for hartals or strikes should make it clear in their call that no one would be compelled to participate in these forms of agitation, traffic will not be obstructed and those who are willing can go for work should be allowed to do so and fundamental rights of people to move about would not be affected.

Accordingly, the DC warned that if any political parties, ortgnizations etc try to force others to fall in line with the bandh call, they will face legal action.

The city police have already pressed into service a deputy commissioner of police, four assistant commissioners of police, 25 police inspectors, 30 police sub-inspectors, civil staff, home guards, four contingents of Karnataka State Reserve Police, ten city armed reserve contingents etc have been posted for looking after law and order, and the movement of anti social elements are being closely monitored, he said.

Two deputy superintendents of police, seven inspectors, 20 sub-inspectors, 40 assistant sub-inspectors, head constables, home guards, Karnataka State Reerve Police contingents, three district armed reserve police etc have been given the responsibility of monitoring law and order situation elsewhere in the district.