Bengaluru: Most public services functioned normally though very few people ventured out in view of a 12-hour bandh called by farmers and pro-Kannada organisations in protest against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
More than 20 people were taken into custody in Bengaluru for violating Section 144 that has been imposed across the city. Kuruburu Shanthakumar, president of the Sugarcane Growers' Association and leader of Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti along with a few other leaders were detained at the Mysuru Bank circle during a protest march towards Town Hall. Around 100 platoons have been deployed to ensure law and order situation in the city.
A very few passengers were seen waiting at the bus stops during the day. The Majestic BMTC bus stop had no commuters. An auto driver said that they were supporting the bandh and only the night drivers are here. There is a clear stand on Cauvery water issue and the bandh is being supported by all, the auto driver added.
Last night, 50 people were taken into custody as a preventive measure. The call for bandh was given from 6 am to 6 pm . More than 150 organisations have expressed their support for the bandh along with opposition parties including BJP, Janata Dal and Aam Aadmi Party. Schools and colleges have declared a holiday while the organisations have appealed the cinema halls, taxis, IT-BT sector, hotel owners to shut down in support of the bandh.
Services that are likely to remain closed:
Autos, taxis and private cab services namely Ola and Uber have decided to remain off the roads. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) will not ply their buses. Also petrol pumps and industries and commerce sector will stay closed. The markets and shops too are keeping their shutters down. Schools and colleges have announced a holiday today.
Services that would remain open:
All government and private offices will remain operational. Metro services under the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited will run according to its normal schedule. Restaurants are likely to remain open as their associations withdrew from the bandh. All emergency services including ambulance, medical stores, hospitals and others will operate as usual.
All pro-Kannada organisations have called for a state-wide Karnataka bandh on Cauvery water dispute on September 29. The bandh will be organised under the Kannada Union. Some pro-Kannada organisations are not supporting today's bandh and have planned to lay siege to the Raj Bhavan.
Bangalore City Collector KA Dayananda said that various organisations of the city have called a bandh on September 26 to protest against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. In view of which, a holiday has been declared in all the schools and colleges in Bengaluru city, Dayananda said in a release.
Also Read: Cauvery protests: Opposition parties pledge support for Bengaluru bandh on Tuesday
An adequate number of security forces have been deployed in the city to ensure that no untoward incident occurs during the bandh.
