Bengaluru: A state-wide ‘rail roko’ call given by various Kannada Organisations hit a road block in Bengaluru, with only a handful of activists turning up for the protest. In spite of this, the police in the city and in the railways had made elaborate arrangements to ensure that no untoward incident occurred in any of the city railway stations.
As per the announcement made by various Kannada organisations led by Mr. Vatal Nagaraj, (an ex-MLA and activist), it was decided that all trains arriving and departing from the state railway stations between 6 am and 6 pm be blocked.
Heavy security arrangements
According to officials in Bengaluru, around 15,000 police personnel including the RRF and KSRP were deployed to prevent any untoward incident. In addition, the city police station was also provided with security from the armed police force and around 40 BMTC buses were hired to ferry agitators that attempted halting trains.
But with only a mere 50 agitators turning up for the protest, security officials were relieved as only two BMTC buses had to be used to ferry agitators out of the city railway station premises.
“Kannada activists held protests all across the state but there were no reports of violence or delay in any of the transport services” informed, SWR officials.
Railway police were very active on their twitter account, responding quickly to all queries raised by commuters.
City railway police made elaborate arrangements to ensure no violence erupted anywhere. Actually it was a ‘no show’ by the Kannada activists.
Police arranged 40 BMTC buses to ferry the agitators, but only 50 protestors arrived to halt the trains. According to sources, the number of police personnel were more than the agitators.
As per sources, in Bengaluru itself, there were 15,000 police personnel deputed at all stations, including the city railway stations Yesvantpur, Kengeri, KR Puram and Contonment.
Unidentified miscreants set fire to a bike bearing Tamil Nadu registration number at Kempanna Layout near Gowdanapalya in Subramanyapura police station limits late on Thursday night.
Police said that bike belonged to Gopi, who had moved to the city just a few days ago and was staying in a rented house in Kempanna Layout. Around 12.30 am on Thursday, some miscreants found his bike parked in front of the house and set it on fire. Gopi has filed a compliant in this connection and efforts are on to nab the culprits.
Pvt schools, colleges resume
All private schools and colleges reopened on Thursday after a two-day holiday due to the Cauvery violence. According to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) officials, all the city schools resumed classes on Thursday. “State government did not announce holiday for schools on Wednesday. But private schools announced holiday on their own because of student's safety. As the situation has now returned to normalcy, all schools were reopened on Thursday,” said an officer.
Vegetable prices up due to lack of supply
Vegetable prices soared in the city as supply from Tamil Nadu and Mandya stopped due to the Cauvery protests. According to the vegetable sellers carrot and beans prices have crossed Rs 80 per kilo on Thursday.
Tender coconut supply was also hit leading to the shortage. “A single tender coconut is now sold for Rs 30. It was Rs 25 last week. Generally during monsoon prices comes down, but this time it is up due to the supply concerns,” said Rama Gowda, a seller near KC general hospital.
According to the vendors, it was the KR Market which is worst hit by the bandh. “Generally vegetables were supplied to the city from Tamil Nadu via KR market. But now due to the cancellation of bus services as well as truck movement, vegetable supply has totally stopped. As a result prices have started to skyrocket,” said Jayaraj Shetty, a wholesale vendor. “Tomato, banana, ladies finger and brinjal rates increased by nearly 100 percent compared with last week,” he said. Farmers of Mandya and Tumakuru too have stopped supplying vegetables, including tender coconut.
In Yeshwatpur APMC, onions were lying in the godown with no takers, creating panic among the farmers. According to the farmers, the traders from Tamil Nadu are not participating in the procurement process due to the fear. “If the situation does not returns to normalcy onion growers will lose around Rs 100-150 crore,” said Yogesh Patil, a onion grower from Chitradurga.
Man scales mobile tower over Cauvery issue
High drama prevailed in Ramanagara district on Thursday morning for over five hours when an agitated protester scaled a mobile tower as a mark of the protest against SC verdict over sharing of Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu and allegedly threatened to jump if his demands were not met.
According to the police, the incident took place around 7.30 am in Heggedegere in Ramanagar District in Bidadi police station limits. Police said that tension prevailed for over five hours when Prakash, a resident of Gubbi Taluk and an agriculturist, threatened to jump and commit suicide if his demands were not met. Prakash scaled an Airtel mobile tower located at Heggedegere in Ramanagar District.
Police further said that Prakash refused to climb down and demanded the district magistrate and deputy commissioner to talk to him. The situation was brought under control by around 1 pm when Ramanagar District DC B.R. Mamatha visited the spot. “The DC spoke to him on mobile phone and assured him that she will look into the matter. Prakash then agreed to climb down the tower. As a precautionary measure, police had also summoned an ambulance at the spot. After he scaled down, he was sent to the hospital and was later let off with a strict warning,” said a police officer.
