KALABURAGI: Kalaburagi city witnessed an entire shutdown on Thursday in response to the bandh call given by Dalit Sanghatanegala Samanvaya Samiti, an umbrella organisation of various Dalit outfits, in protest against the recent rape and murder of a Dalit girl at Vijayapura.
Shops, hotels, malls, cinemas, and even medical shops remained closed in view of the bandh which was also supported by farmers organisations, women’s groups, pro—Kannada associations, Muslim organisations, etc. While Congress party leaders participated in the bandh, BJP leaders however distanced themselves from the bandh. Even a hearse carrying a dead body was held up at the RTO Circle as the protesters did not allow it move. The vehicle was allowed to pass only after repeated pleas by the relatives. The protesters had put up barricades and boulders at many road junctions and also set fire to tyres to prevent vehicular movement. The lathi-wielding youth also prevented the public from walking on the streets. Even roadside petty shops and pushcart vendors were not allowed to run their business. Groups of youths carrying DSS flags were seen moving from place to place on their vehicles to enforce the bandh.
Schools and colleges remained closed as the managements had declared a holiday a day earlier. Gulbarga University which had rescheduled an examination for the first semester of the third year law course cancelled the examination at the 11th hour. The commuters as well as outstation travellers were put to great hardship as the NEKRTC had suspended vehicular movement since early morning.
