Puducherry: Normal life was thrown out of gear in Puducherry during the Bharat Bandh called by Congress and supported by DMK, its allies and other parties, to protest the rise in prices of petroleum products.
Roads in the city wore a deserted look since morning as government buses, private taxis and most of the autorickshaws did not ply. Business establishments, petrol pumps, shops, malls, certain private enterprises remained closed.
Almost all private schools declared a holiday on Monday, while, government schools and government offices functioned with less attendance. Hundreds of workers belonging to Congress, DMK, Left parties and various other outfits came on the streets to ensure the bandh was a success. They raised slogans against the hike in petrol and diesel prices.
Though police had tightened the security at all vulnerable areas, bandh supporters pelted stones at a TNSTC bus near Nellithope signal, and the windscreens of a bus owned by private Arts and Science College were damaged in stone pelting at Muthialpet.
Lt Governor Kiran Bedi cautioned of stringent action against those who damage public property. Anyone damaging public property during the bandh must be dealt with under substantive law, based on evidences recorded from the spot and cases be chargesheeted, said Bedi.
Police must patrol day long to make this determination clear and police vehicles must make announcement to give no reason of ignorance to violators, she said. Law and order must be maintained and people and property must be protected without any favour, whoever it may be, she added in a Whatsapp message.
