Bandh on JIPMER issue gets good response in UT

Puducherry, Sept 26: The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the JIPMER anti-conversion peoples' action committee today to protest the Centre's move give to autonomous status to the medical institution evoked a good response in the Union Territory.

Shops and business establishments, except a few in Grand Bazaar, remained closed. While private buses, taxis and passenger tempo's remained off the road, the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation buses plied with police escort.

All Central and State government offices worked with thin attendance. While governemnt schools functioned, private schools were closed for holidays after quarterly examination.

After windscreen of two private buses were shattered Operation of private buses was totally suspended.

Police were posted in all vulnerable areas and security strengthened in the town to maintain peace during the bandh.

Meanwhile, the strike by JIPMER employees entered the 19th day, crippling medical services at the centrally-administered hospital.

Barring Congress and its allies, the CPI(M), AIADMK, BJP,DPI,MDMK, and RPI are supporting the bandh.

Police arrested 53 bandh supporters for obstructing the road on Kamaraj Saalai here. The protestors came in two groups, one led by CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state council member T Murugan and the other by CPI(M) Puducherry committee member V Perumal. Mr Murugan and Mr Perumal (both CPM), A M Krishnamurty(AIADMK) R Kesavalu(BJP) and Leon (RPI), were among those, arrested by the police.

UNI