Around 353 rowdies were detained in North Division alone
Pro kannada protesters outside the assembly. (Photo: DC)
Bengaluru: Despite assurance of police security, a large number of commercial establishments, schools, colleges, malls and theatres shut for the day as activists of Kannada outfits took to the streets on their bikes, shouting slogans and holding placards to ensure that the bandh was a success.
With little traffic on the roads, the police focused on the protesters who had gathered near Town Hall and escorted them as they made their way to the CM’s residence to hand over a memorandum.
While two stray incidents of BMTC buses being pelted with stones, one on Tannery Road and one under Hebbagodi police limits in Chandapura on Hosur Road were reported, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sharath Chandra said the law and order situation was under control. “We detained 1,200 rowdy elements late Wednesday night to avoid untoward incidents in the city on bandh day,” said Additional Commissioner, Alok Kumar.
Around 353 rowdies were detained in North Division alone. “Our men were keeping a close watch on car and bike-borne protesters to see if they were intimidating shopkeepers to down their shutters,” Mr Kumar added.
With many of the activists violating traffic rules and giving helmets a miss, the police is readying to take action against them. “Our men have video-graphed the violators and their vehicles and they will be booked for the violations they are guilty of,” said DCP, traffic, East Division, Babu Rajendra Prasad.
As many as 17,000 uniformed men including two companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), 50 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), 20 platoons of City Armed Reserve (CAR), and a 1000 Home Guards, were deployed in the city to make sure the bandh was peaceful.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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