BENGALURU: A day after violent protests in the northwestern parts, the city witnessed a self-imposed bandh on Tuesday, as shops and business establishments shut fearing further trouble.
Curfew imposed in riot-hit areas paid off as no untoward incidents were reported. The number of deaths due to protests went up to two, with another man succumbing to his injuries at a hospital.
Kumar, a bar bender who was injured on Monday night after accidentally falling from the third floor of a building while trying to escape from the lathicharging policemen in Byadarahalli, died of his injuries at a private hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
Despite curfew being in force in 16 police station limits, some miscreants tried to disturb peace in Laggere and surrounding areas. But the police forces rushed to the spot, lathicharged the protesters and dispersed them on Tuesday morning.
The police top brass made good use of the additional police forces sent by the Centre and deployed them in sensitive areas. Flag marches were also held in sensitive areas to instill confidence among the residents.
The shutdown that had forced Bengalureans to remain indoors as all commercial establishments, malls and cinemas were closed started to ease only by evening. BMTC and KSRTC buses, cabs and autorickshaws started plying from around 5 pm. Namma Metro services resumed a little later.
Protest hijacked by anti-socials: Police
When chaos and anarchy ruled the city on Monday, many fringe groups used this as an opportunity to show their muscle power by indulging in widespread violence and torching of vehicles. Police sources said that the protests went out of the control of the pro-Kannada leaders and anti social elements took over.
“Fringe groups will always wait for such opportunities. Though it looks like they do it for identity apparently, the real motives behind such acts are hidden. They were desperately waiting for an opportunity to show that they exist. They also wanted to show that they were powerful, so that their help will be sought to get other things done,” an official said.
Many were keen to make most out of such opportunities. “All they want is to publicise that when it comes to vandalism they can do anything. They want to project themselves as local leaders and build their own gang, who will be in need of some identity and money. Using them as their tool, those individuals try to emerge as local leaders in their locality. They involve in damaging public and private property during bandhs and protests, as they think they would go unnoticed,” the official said.
However, the Monday’s violent protest could not have become so violent without the participation of public. “No organisation can afford to do something like this and get away. It was clear that thousands of individuals, who were not part of any organisation, also actively indulged in vandalism,” the official added.
